'BLATANT' POLITICAL DYNASTIES SLAMMED / PACQUIAO BUILDING A
DYNASTY?
[PHOTO -CenPeg criticized the senatorial slates formed by the ruling
Liberal Party and its rival United Nationalist Alliance. It particularly
referred to the Cayetano, Enrile, Estrada and Magsaysay families who each might
have two representatives in the Senate.]
MANILA, OCTOBER 8, 2012 (INQUIRER) A civil society group on
Wednesday slammed the "blatant" expansion of political dynasties in the country.
Noting the number of sons, daughters, wives, cousins and other relatives of
entrenched politicians in the lineups for next year's midterm polls, the Quezon
City-based Center for People Power Empowerment in Governance (CenPeg) said this
did not augur well for democracy.
"Definitely alarming today is the entrenchment of the system of political
dynasties on a higher and more blatant scale, making the fair representation of
the large majority of Filipinos even more elusive."
CenPeg criticized the senatorial slates formed by the ruling Liberal Party
and its rival United Nationalist Alliance. It particularly referred to the
Cayetano, Enrile, Estrada and Magsaysay families who each might have two
representatives in the Senate. Add to this the relatives of President Benigno
Aquino—a young cousin and an aunt.
"What is definitely emerging as a scandalous reality is that political
dynasties are more blatant and active today."
CenPeg warned that the people are more and more aware of ills brought by
political dynasties and are slowly expressing their distaste towards the system.
"The current national and media uproar against the blatant and ostentatious
display of oligarchic power should lead to positive and constructive steps
toward people empowerment," the group said.
Patron-client relationships and the corporate interests of politicians in
Congress will also reflect in the type of laws that would be passed.
"Expect the present and future congresses to enact more laws that will favor
the oligarchs and corporate elite," CenPeg said.
A government that is dominated by oligarchs, the group added, will not
equalize opportunities for growth and development among the vast majority of
people, the group continued.
"Conditions to form 'more of the same' are more encouraging than ever under
the administration of Mr. Aquino, himself a benefactor of this culture of
political patronage," the group added.
The center said self-preservation and expansion of political dynasties in the
Senate is also being replicated in the House of Representatives and in the
various local government units (LGUs).
It does not help that in a rare chance that a nontraditional politician wins
an election, he or she begins to create a new dynasty, CenPeg lamented.
"The concentration, expansion, and consolidation of political dynasties over
the past 100 years attest to the continuing hegemony of feudal politics, the
absence of any form of real democracy, and the continued powerlessness of a vast
marginalized majority in the Philippines, the group said.
Is Pacquiao building a dynasty? Philippine Daily
Inquirer
[PHOTO -PACQUIAO POLITICS Reelectionist Rep. Manny Pacquiao signs his
certificate of candidacy at the Comelec office in Alabel, Sarangani, on Tuesday.
At right is Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee, who is running for vice governor of
Sarangani province. SARANGANI INFORMATION
OFFICE]
GENERAL SANTOS - If political families can build dynasties, why not boxing
superstar Manny Pacquiao?
Pacquiao himself has announced his reelection bid as representative of
Sarangani's lone congressional district. His wife, Jinkee, is running for vice
governor of the province, while his youngest brother, Rogelio, wants to become a
congressman of neighboring South Cotabato, too.
[PHOTO -Jinkee Pacquiao to run for Sarangani vice governor:
Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, will run for vice
governor of Sarangani province. Jinkee filed her certificate of candidacy for
vice governor in Alabel town Tuesday, according to Alvin Quiñanola, the
province's election officer. Pacquiao himself has announced his reelection bid
as Sarangani representative. In an apparent bid to tighten his political grip,
Pacquiao forged an alliance with the Chiongbian family and his party will be
fielding Sarangani Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian-Solon in the gubernatorial
race. He paired his wife Jinkee with Solon. Inquirer Mindanao]
The boxer's People Champ Movement (PCM) has teamed up with Vice
President Jejomar Binay's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in fielding Rogelio
in the congressional race for the first district of South Cotabato.
Rogelio, chairman of Barangay (village) Apopong here, will run against the
incumbent, Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr., a former mayor.
Jinkee will be the running mate of Steve Chiongbian Solon, the incumbent vice
governor, who will be seeking the gubernatorial post against possibly incumbent
Gov. Miguel Dominguez, who is in his last term.
The team-up indicates an alliance that Pacquiao has forged with the
Chiongbians, a family that has kept a tight grip on Sarangani politics. It has
obscured Pacquiao's victory over another Chiongbian, Roy, in the 2010
congressional race.
[PHOTO -Children take shelter from the drizzle as Sarangani Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon celebrates with
villagers at Sapu Padidu in Malapatan Tuesday. Romina
Rabina]
Roy, the brother of then outgoing Rep. Erwin Chiongbian, questioned
Pacquiao's residency but failed to have him disqualified. Pacquiao claimed he
had lived in Sarangani before his foray into politics.
Pacquiao then took pride in defeating a "billionaire" and part of a political
dynasty. His supporters credited the boxer's "charisma and propoor" outlook for
his victory.
In 2007, however, Pacquiao lost to former Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in
the mayoral race in General Santos City, despite reportedly spending about P120
million in the election campaign.
In next year's mayoral battle, the boxer has tapped Councilor Ronnel Rivera,
a son of a fishing magnate, against Custodio.
Jinkee filed her certificate of candidacy for vice governor in Alabel town on
Tuesday, according to Alvin Quiñanola, the province's election officer.
Another member of the Pacquiao family, Lorelie, is also into politics, having
won as chair of Barangay Labangal here in the 2010 barangay elections. Lorelie
is the wife of Pacquiao's brother, Bobby. With a report from
Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao
FROM RAPPLER.COM
Pacquiao: No obstacles to reelection bid by Ayee
Macaraig Posted on 09/24/2012 5:47 PM | Updated 09/24/2012 10:16 PM
[VIDEO
INTERVIEW]
In an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of the United Nationalist
Alliance (UNA), Pacquiao said his 2013 reelection bid is so far, so good.
"Okay na sa ngayon, wala naman tayong nakikitang problema at wala pa tayong
nakikita kung sino ang kalaban. Okay naman," said Pacquiao on Monday, September
24. (It's okay, we don't see any problems so far and we don't know who will be
our opponent. It's okay.)
During the meeting at the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Pacquiao
brought with him Sarangani Vice Gov Steve Chiongbian Solon and 4 mayors from
Mindanao.
Pacquiao initially planned to run for Sarangani governor in 2013 but he
decided to support Chiongbian's gubernatorial bid instead.
"Pagbigyan naman natin ang iba na mag-gobernador like Steve Chiongbian Solon,
siya ang nilagay ko. Ang naisip ko, doon pa rin sa posisyon ko kasi 1st term ko
pa lang," Pacquiao said. (Let's give others a chance to be governor like Steve
Chiongbian. He is the one I chose. I thought of running for reelection because
this is still my first term.)
Pacquiao is a new member of Binay's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng
Laban (PDP-Laban), a coalition partner of UNA. He switched from the Nacionalista
Party of Senator Manny Villar in April.
Pacquiao lost an earlier political battle in 2007: the congressional race in
South Cotabato. Former Rep Darlene Antonino-Custodio then beat Pacquiao.
The boxing champion pledged support for UNA in 2013. "United kami dito, lahat
nagkakaisa kami kaya napakasarap sa UNA." (We are united here that's why it's
good to be a part of UNA.)
When Pacquiao arrived at the meeting, Estrada joked that he would be UNA's
financier.
The athlete later told reporters, "Mas mayaman pa sa akin iyon." (President
Estrada is richer than I am). – Rappler.com
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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