SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday sought the immediate passage of the anti-political dynasty bill and again vowed to include a provision that would prohibit political dynasties in the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
He said the poor provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were being ruled by dynasties.
In other developments:
• Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Monday it was high time the 1987 Constitution was examined.
“In my time I felt it was time to review the Charter, but of course [it should be reviewed] all the more now,” she said in a television interview.
“There are some obvious areas for review, for instance foreign ownership and the form of government. That’s why the pros and cons should be discussed.”
• The consultative body formed and tasked to propose amendments to the Constitution on Monday voted to recommend regulating the political dynasties and not banning them completely.
Ten members of the consultative committee to review the 1987 Constitution voted for regulation while nine voted for a total ban.
The panel then decided to propose the prohibition of an incumbent official’s relatives from the first to second degrees of consanguinity and affinity from running for office.
Citing a study by Dean Ronald Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government, Drilon said three provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were among the poorest there, and those were Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sulu.
That, he said, “clearly shows the relation between poverty and political dynasties.”
Drilon said the draft BBL, which is in the plenary for deliberation, was aimed at replacing to the current ARMM. He is one of the principal authors of that bill in the Senate.
Drilon said Mendoza’s study revealed that 81 percent of governors, 78 percent of congressmen, 69 percent of mayors and 57 percent of vice mayors came from political clans.
He said judging from the responses of resource persons during the public hearings on Charter Change, Filipinos had expressed preference for Congress to pass the anti-political dynasty law before proceeding with amending the Constitution that would pave the way for a shift to federalism.
“There is a growing appeal for Congress to pass the enabling law that will ban or regulate political dynasties in the country before amending the Constitution to shift to a federal form of government, Drilon said.
“Ultimately, any proposal to amend or revise the Constitution will be submitted to the people for ratification. Hence, it behooves the proponents and supporters of Charter Change and federalism to listen to the demands of the people.”