(NI NOEL ABUEL)

TUTUTUKAN nang husto ni Senate  Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon ang muling pagbuhay sa Anti-Political Dynasty Act  sa pagpasok ng 18th Congress upang mabawasan ang magkakamag-anak na pulitika.

Ayon sa senador, ipinapangako nitong maipapasa ang panukala kung kaya’t una ito sa listahan na kanyang isusulong sa Senado para labanan ang political dynasties sa bansa.

“No less than the Constitution mandates the State to guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law,” giit pa ni Drilon.

Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 11, nais nitong ipagbawal ang pagpasok sa pulitika ng asawa o kaanak ng isang incumbent elective official sa ibang posisyon sa mismong panahon ng eleksyon.

“The Constitution entrusted to Congress the duty to end political dynasties. Unfortunately, we have failed in our duty and, hence, political dynasty still persists and so does poverty,” ani Drilon.

“Studies have clearly established the relation between poverty and political dynasties. Most of the poorest provinces and municipalities in the country are ruled by dynastic relationship,” sabi pa ni Drilon na inihalimbawa ang sitwasyon sa probinsya ng Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao at Sulu sa Mindanao.

“Research has found that dynastic concentration has a significantly negative effect on the upliftment of local living standards, noting that lack of real political competition leads to flawed policies,” dagdag pa ng senador.