PARTIDO Lakas ng Masa (PLM) senatorial candidates and labor leaders Leody de Guzman and Luke Espiritu yesterday said the 1987 Constitution is clear about banning political dynasties.
The two independent bents said there is no ambiguity in the intent of Article II Section 26 of the Constitution, which provides that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
They made the statement as they invited Sen. Cynthia Villar to take a closer look on the constitutional prohibition against political dynasties after she defended having two generations of her family in the Senate and occupying two of 24 seats in the upper chamber.
“The law is straightforward. But a lawmaker like Cynthia Villar would rather look for holes and technicalities they can exploit,” De Guzman, PLM president, said.
Regardless of the absence of an enabling law, he said any public official should readily understand that the Constitution did not intend for any family to have several members in the legislature.
“Like our seasoned labor lawyers used to say, the spirit of the law is not confined by its letters. Even in the absence of an enabling law, a politician should restrain other family members from going after multiple elective posts. It is not just common sense but more on delicadeza,” he added.
Espiritu said what all political dynasties have done is keep a stranglehold on power while protecting their own interests.
He challenged Villar to explain how the country has benefited from her family’s dynasty.
