ALL 25 senatorial candidates who attended “The Rundown 2025” youth forum on Saturday evening at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City took a unanimous stand that it is necessary to tear down all political dynasties to effect real change in government.
Among those who attended the four-hour event were nine candidates from the Makabayan coalition, four independents, two from Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), and bets from Partido Maharlika, Bunyog Pagkakaisa, Workers and Peasants’ Party, Katipunan ang Kamalayang Kayumanggi, and the Democratic Party of the Philippines.
Not one senatorial aspirant from the “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” slate showed up to participate, while only one candidate from the PDP-Laban – lawyer Jayvee Hinlo – attended after lawyer Raul Lambino and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, Sagip) begged off despite signifying their interest earlier.
All the aspirants present agreed to pass an enabling law to ban political dynasties, saying it is a necessary piece of legislation that the next Congress should work on.
Labor leader and PLM candidate Leody de Guzman said most of the things that are wrong in government, including corruption and political infighting, can be traced on the clashing interests of powerful political families.
“If we are honest to ourselves, we can readily see that political dynasties are at the center of everything that is causing a problem in our country,” De Guzman said.
Even Hinlo, who is running under the banner of the Duterte-led PDP-Laban, held up a “YES” placard in answer to the question for all 25 candidates regarding their stand on banning political dynasties. However, he was not given an opportunity to explain his answer.
On the question regarding the continuation of the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte, Hinlo was given a chance to take center stage after he submitted the lone “NO” placard.
“We should respect equal protection of laws. Why is VP Sara being singled out? Why is there nobody inquiring into the confidential funds of President (Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. and other departments under him? Why are we focused only on VP Sara?” he demanded.
Hinlo said if the law is to be applied evenly, all irregular handing of confidential funds should be investigated and impeachment complaints filed where applicable.
“All of you are accusing VP Sara of corruption yet you have not said anything about other agencies and president Marcos. Are you for equal protection? If you attack one person, you should attack everyone just to be fair. But why are you keeping silent?” he added.
For a single reaction from other candidates, civil rights lawyer and PLM senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu was given a chance to reply.
He pointed out that from Hinlo’s statement, he did not even bother to deny that the vice president committed a crime of mishandling confidential funds.
