HISTORY repeats itself like a broken record.
Before, it was conjugal dictatorship and cronies. Then, it was Kamag-anak, Inc. Now, we call it political dynasty. Really, there’s nothing new under the sun.
The Estradas had set a bad precedent when mother and son won simultaneous seats in the Senate. In the recent election, we saw senatoriables with kin already sitting in the Senate. That’s one the reasons why I did not vote for Alan Cayetano, Vic Magsaysay and Koko Pimentel (See my previous blog entry: http://inquirerbloggers.net/eleksyon2007/2007/05/16/why-i-did-not-vote-for-pichay-cayetano-et-al/).
In our country, we see fathers sitting as mayors with their children sitting as congressmen. In one city, four brothers ran for mayor, congressmen for both of its districts, and party-list representative. When the local official finishes his third term, he makes his wife run for the position. Then we also discover that some of the nominees of the party-lists are children of congressmen.
Why do we tolerate this? Before the election I went to Bicol. I asked a pedicab driver why he would vote for Dato Arroyo. He answered, “Siyempre anak siya ng pangulo. Eh di mas malakas sa taas.” (Of course, he is the son of the president. So he must be well-connected up there.) What if Dato loses this election? Does that mean the President will neglect that district in Bicol? That is why political dynasty is so unfair.
Now, these politicians claim that there’s no law against it. Granted, it may not be illegal. But it is immoral. Democracy is about equality. Where is equality in political dynasty? Is there equality when power is concentrated on just a few influential families? I heard Alan Cayetano say that kings pass on power to their sons. Mr. Cayetano, we are not under a monarchy. Well, at least in a monarchy, the king dies first before the prince takes over. Why not wait for your sister to step down before you run for senator? How can siblings (or father and son as in the case of the Pimentels) be a fair representative of the entire country? Where’s equality in that?
They claim that they are qualified. Fine. “Sila lang ba ang mga anak ng Diyos?” (Are they the only children of God?) Are they the only ones qualified? Plus, they are not just banking on their qualifications. They are taking advantage of name recall. That’s undue advantage. Did they focus solely on their qualifications in their campaign? Really now? Did the voters vote for them solely because they are qualified?
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. claimed that political dynasty is not prohibited by the ten commandments. Well, Mr. Senator, it is. God said, “Thou shalt not steal.” Isn’t political dynasty stealing the opportunity to serve from others?
At least, Senator Panfilo Lacson had the moral courage not to allow one of his sons to run for a local elective position. He told his son not to run while he is a senator.
It seems to me that it’s all about power. I believe they just could not let go of power, that they just want to perpetuate themselves in power, that they lust for power so much that they want more of it. That’s why any anti-dynasty bill is doomed to failure even before it is put on paper.
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Enrico Navea
Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nitong si Alan Peter. Kahit na nga sa Survey eh 6-4-2 ang lumabas, gusto niya pa rin 8-2-2. Conditioning of mind na naman yan. Kung sakali nga naman maging 6-4-4, dinaya na naman. Ang kapal talaga, bagay mukhang monay naman ang mukha mo eh kaya siguro kumakapal.
Kung naniniwala ka sa survey Cayetano, makikita mo na 6-4-2 at hindi 8-2-2 na ngayon ay idinadakdak mo. Puro kasi daldal eh.
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Election is over. At mali ka! the only reason Pandak manok won because they cheat again.
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
ESR
That Salina should stop defending the number one gambler the Philippines had known..ERAP. aside from being a legitimate womanizer with mistress at the left and right, He disected the nation’s economy for the benefit of his family and mistresses and friends..His election to the presidency is non phenomenal, given the Filipinos passion for celebrities and movies.
He deserved what he is getting now, no less. His son Jinggoy’s record in the senate is an empty useless waste of gov’t money, barking on his dad’s enemy whenever he had chances, and so Luisa ejercito, both mother and son makes a tandem of liabilty rather than a respectable senators of the republic.
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Why should I stop protecting Erap. What I was saying is true! Further more what his love life got to do with anything else for as long as his doing his job he suppose too.
Just look what happen when these elites hypocrites kick Erap and install Gloria Arroyo, Into her stolen power. The corruption in government office is so rampant but yet these elite hypocrites who’s install her, Is not saying anything because they’re in it together.
As we all can see it, The only reason they kick Erap from Malacanyang Palace so that they’re the one can rob the country coffer.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
KOKO will never win in Mindanao and everybody knows that. He did not even win when he run for mayor of cagayan de oro, how much more in the senate.
i doubt as well that KOKO indeed was a BAR Topnotcher.. a math major then a bar topnotcher? common! it could be the connection of his DAD pimentel. everyone knows how influence and money can make wonders.
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Salina
Migz-Koko vote dispute rages on
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KOKO: THE ONLY PROBLEM TAKEN YOUR CASE TO COURT IS THE ENTIRE CORRUPT JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTROL BY THE CORRUPT GLORIA ARROYO. BUT, GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR CHANCE LET SEE WHAT THESE JUDGES GOING TO DO. AND WE ARE GOING TO WATCH. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPEN. AS WE ALREADY KNOW THE MAGUINDANAO VOTES ARE TAINTED. BECAUSE THE COMELEC OFFICIAL THE ONE DOING THE CHEATING FOR GLORIA ARROYO. AS WE ALREADY SEE IT. SIGE TULOY ANG LABAN. KAHIT SA KALYE PA!
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nilampaso ng mga supreme court justices si koko, bartopnotcher pa man din, nag mukhang t?a?n?g?a, kawawa naman…….
June 17th, 2007 at 7:04 am
tagakotta
One Team Unity person that I will really remember for a long ,long time is “Tony PET Albano�.He was always so proud that the “Command Votes� were going to deliver the votes for his team.I always wondered where Mr.Tony “PET� was talking about elections in North Korea and other “Guided democracy countries� .
I will not be surprised at all if his appointed Comelec chairman one day!(lol)
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The command votes they’re talking about is the dagdag bawas operation. They did the same thing in May 10, 2004. Presidential election. In mindanao thats where all their cheating operation is….
Except this time the filipino people join hand and protect the filipino people votes. Thats why their cheating operation has been caught. Imagine if they didn’t got caught. Gloria Arroyo, Well be in power forever. I’ll say, Its time for us to unite and kick some ASS’S!!!
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