Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed Senate Bill No. 49 calling for an end to political dynasties.
Lacson said SB No. 49 seeks the stringent implementation of the 1987 Constitution’s provision on equal access to opportunities and hopes it would finally pass in the 17th Congress under President Duterte’s watch.
“While the State recognizes the pernicious effects of political dynasties, there is still no enabling law to prohibit its existence in the political arena. Influential clans and families that are well-entrenched in the political arena have made positions in government their virtual playgrounds, resulting in the proliferation of small monarchies all over the country,” Lacson said in the bill.
Lacson noted there have been many attempts to introduce an anti-political dynasty law since the 8th Congress but these failed probably due to “many members of Congress being from politically dominating political clans.”
The senator said these politicians from powerful political clans have “successfully argued for the electorate’s right to choose their elected leaders using the oft-repeated principle that “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.”
“This makes a mockery of what should otherwise be a level-playing field in politics and espouse political inequities,” he said. (Hannah L. Torregoza)