What does the 1987 Constitution say on political dynasties?
The Declaration of Principles and State Policies in Article II says very clearly: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
The problem, says former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, is that Congress has been sleeping on the job and ignoring the constitutional mandate to enact an antidynasty law.
“There are no ifs or buts, the 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties. Unfortunately, the Constitution gave Congress the power to enact laws in order to implement this constitutional prohibition in 1987,” Puno said recently.
“It is now 2015, and instead of eliminating the dynasties, Congress has allowed them to flourish and to multiply. They are now reigning supreme in all our provinces, cities and municipalities. Their number must have broken a Guinness world record,” he said.
Puno is right on the mark. We do not have look far and wide to find members of the same family occupying key positions at the municipal, city and provincial and national levels. You can find their names in the newspapers at any given time.
What's unseemly about having members of the same family wielding political power—as well as economic power—is that they deprive others of access to decision-making. Where families have lorded it over their consitutencies like feudal lords, dispensing patronage to command obedience and respect, then you have a surefire formula for keeping the masses poor and ignorant.
Dismantling political dynasties will take time. Members of Congress have fear and loathing of any anti-dynasty bill as it would put an end to their hold on the lives of the people they are supposed to serve. But the first step should be made, if we want to save our democracy from the power-hungry. –End-
Image by: kickerdaily.com
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento