Gonzales: Philippine politics, politicians in way of country moving forward

Presidential candidate and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales on Saturday criticized politics in the Philippines, saying it was the reason why the country was not moving forward.

"I have observed that our political system and the way we behave in our campaigns, the kind of politicians we have, this is really what hinders us from moving forward as a people, as a nation," Gonzales said at the SMNI presidential interviews on Saturday.

Gonzales, who's running for president under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, said he had the opportunity when he was a Cabinet secretary to go around the country and met many politicians.

"We have very bright people in the local government, in the houses of Congress, well-educated sons and daughters of prominent families. You meet them, you talk to them, wow! They are very good people, they are very intelligent," Gonzales said.

"But then when they engage in our politics, they rob our country, they fool our people, they cheat. Why?" he added.

Gonzales said he wanted to change the country's political culture and system.

"Because if you have very bright young people entering our politics and they destroy, why are we not changing the system? We have to change the system. Otherwise we will never see the kind of leaders that we need," Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the political system should encourage people to develop patriotism and concern for the society.

"Palagay ko 'yung ating mga namumuno sa lipunan, ang ating mga politiko, hindi binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating sambayanan para ipamalas ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Because we never really talk about it nor discuss about it, nor challenge our people to love their country. We don't," Gonzales said.

(I think our political leaders, our politicians, are not giving our people a chance to show their love for the country.)

Gonzales criticized families that made an enterprise out of government service.

"I think a really harmful political dynasty is when a family decides to make governing the nation as their business. That's where they get their money," Gonzales said.

"And you see the entire family, before you only see the husband and wife, then suddenly you all have the brothers and sisters, and now even the grandchildren," he added.

"When you see that they are not doing anything else except attempting to control a particular province or a particular city or town, and making it their business, monopolizing that particular part of the country, that to me is bad dynasty," Gonzales said.

He acknowledged that not all political dynasties were "bad," if they had not engaged themselves in controlling a particular area or region.

"Sometimes you cannot prevent one or two members of the same family to be occupying some positions in government. And they were there because they are competent," Gonzales said. —NB, GMA News