Political Dynasty (PGC Term Paper) Submitted to: Prof. Amelita C. Del Rosario Submitted by: Angeli Sharmaine Y. Santiago (1M4) Date March 18, 2013 Table of Contents I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 II. Advantages and Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 III. Body/Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 IV. Personal Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 V. Summary/Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 VI. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 I. Introduction Political dynasties are part of our history and our culture, but are these dynasties keeping the Philippines from achieving its full potential by keeping political power to themselves. Political dynasty is a succession of rulers from the same family or line. It is a family or group that maintains power for several generations. It is normal for a politician's son, wife, brother, or other kinsman, to run for the same or other government office. Dynasties are characterized by family members and close relatives of established politicians getting into politics and succeeding them in the same position or in a different one. Political dynasties have long been present in our country. Politics in the Philippines has been under the control of a few notable families. For many years, politics in the Philippines has been controlled by prominent families. During the Spanish occupation, power was distributed to a few elite families. The Mestizo families, the Principalia, the owned land held power, had the right to vote and were inevitably the ones who control local power. Political Dynasties are not exclusive to Philippine politics. The U.S. has a Kennedy and Bush families, India has a Ghandies, Indonesia has a Suharto family, Malaysia has the Razak, while Thailand has the Shinawatra family. Political analyst Mon Casiple says, Martial law gave birth to a number of political dynasties, bred by the Marcos dynasty itself. The 1987 Philippine Constitution born after the EDSA revolt strives to change that. ARTICLE 2, SECTION 26 states, “The state shall guarantee equal to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defines by law.” The problem is, till this day the law has not defined political dynasties and that meant the preservation of the status quo. II. Advantages and Disadvantages There is a good side of this; it is that if the political dynasty has a good record of keeping the country in order possibly because it runs in their blood or if the political family has good intention in ruling, then it is favourable. However, it doesn’t happen that way in our country that’s why it is one issue that needs/wants to be altered. Political dynasties allow political families to be in rule for long periods of time that makes them always the ones who are in control which is not good because this makes it easier for them to carry out or accomplish whatever they want because there will be lesser who will oppose to them and it is easier for them to keep secrets. For example, if there is a crime that happened, especially if they are involved, then it is easier for them to hide the truth or to not be accused guilty because they have high power. Also, corruption is one of the results of this. Corruption is one of the biggest problems that our country is facing today. Up to the present, political dynasty only offers devastating effects especially to the government where the involved family reigns. III. Body/Content According to a study of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, at least 115 members or 68% of the members of the present congress have relatives who were members of the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th congresses. Not only have the political families controlled power, most dynasties also have influence on local and national economy. The studies show that based on the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth, members of congress that were elected in 2007 and ones who were re-elected in 2010 became richer by an average margin of 39% and yet, poverty levels barely moved and according to an SWS survey, in the incidences of hunger actually increased in the same time period. Legislators belonging to political dynasties appear to be richer with an average net worth of 52 million pesos, than those who do not belong to dynasties who have an average net worth of 42 million pesos.The same study shows that political dynasties are also prominent in the Philippines' political parties they make up 76% of the Lakas-kampi party, 56% of the liberal party, 74% of the nationalist people's coalition, and 81% of the Nacionalista party. In the 2010 national elections, the top 3 presidential candidates all come from political families. President Benigno Aquino won with 15,208,678 votes followed by Joseph Estrada and Many Villar. The top 2 vice-presidential candidates also come from political families Jejomar Binay and Mar Roxas. and 8 of the senatorial winning candidates namely, Revilla, Estrada, Enrile, Cayetano, Marcos, Recto, Osmena, and Guingona, all come from political families. Evidence indicates that dynastic representatives tend to spend on scholarships and livelihood projects, programs that enable them to get direct credit. Tarpaulin politics appear to directly benefit those in power to increase name and face recall. Unfortunately, the costs associated with tarpaulin politics are often paid for by tax payer money. There have been various attempts to pass laws to implement ARTICLE 2, SECTION 26 of the 1987 constitution. In 2004, then Senator Alfredo Lim filed Senate bill 1317, an anti-dynasty bill, followed by Senator Panfilo Lacson in 2007, and Senator Miriam Santiago in 2011. But 25 years after the ratification of the 1987 constitution, an anti-dynasty bill has yet to be passed. In a congress populated by politicians who come from political families passing an anti-dynasty bill is next to impossible. IV. Personal Insight For me, being a concerned student, I do believe that having a political dynasty is not appropriate in the development of one’s country. There are still a lot of good politicians who exist. We should give chance to other people who could offer greater service to the community. Those politicians want to be powerful, it is the power they need but they truly do not know what service is. Sadly, political dynasty still imparts a big impact in our society. People should vote wisely, and not fall in to bribery of voting unwanted officials. If most of the members of your clan take over many positions in any office, later on they will invade the country and there will be no more Democracy.  Democracy means that people have the right to everything. We, Filipinos should work too. We should stand as one. In principle, there is nothing wrong with political dynasties. In practice, however, its prevalence exemplifies the exclusionary power structure in the Philippines, where local elites continue to exert considerable influence in our country. Political dynasties are here to stay whether we like it or not, unless, of course, if we make a choice. V. Summary/Conclusion There is nothing wrong with becoming richer, but are these representatives doing everything in their power to uplift their poorer constituents. Until today, political dynasties are still prominent in a lot of different countries. With majority of members of congress belonging to political families, the prospect for an anti-dynasty law remains dim. They say the best way to ensure equal access to opportunities for public service is through strengthening of political parties, the use of technology for fraud free elections, and the creation of an informed electorate. VI. References http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/42258-castigating-political-dynasties http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1969605 http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/10/02/12/philippine-political-dynasties-must-end http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/19/lets-end-political-dynasties/ http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=Political-dynasties&id=66511 http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/perse/?p=2199 http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/40104/1/Draft_of_Philippine_Dynasty_PPSJ.pdf http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/348737/political-dynasties-rule-senatorial-r ace-polls