Too much to be dealt with by law

The necessity of an anti-political dynasty law cannot be doubted. Political dynasties have monopolized Philippine politics for so long. It is about time that their powers are clipped. Their control over vast public and private resources continues to impede the growth of our society. Their influence over the existing economic and political institutions have led these institution to cater to their interest to the detriment of public welfare.

Political dynasty is embedded in our culture and history. Spaniards institutionalized clan power in traditional Filipino communities by appointing heads or members of big families as gobernadorcillos. The access to colonial authorities of these appointed gobernadorcillos had given them so much influence to build up their own political and social powers. Because of the privileges that their families enjoyed, they became primary patrons for community members.

Instead of introducing a truly formative democracy, the Americans reinforced the holds of political families reigning in the country by using them as dummies to serve their colonial interests. Leaders of these political families became first recipient of American education. In turn, they institutionalized colonialism by furthering American interests in Philippine culture, economy and culture.

Because their powers have not been checked for so long, political clans have successfully embedded themselves in all private and public institutions. Almost all local government units in the country are in the hands of relatives or close allies of local political clans. Meanwhile, the Executive and Legislative branches of the government have become the havens of politicians and bureaucrats who come to power because of these political clans. Even appointments in the civil service, especially in sensitive positions usually cater also to their interest.

            It is proper to describe the prevailing political system as a dysfunctional liberal democracy dominated by dynastico-personalist politicians.

Liberal democracy’s promise of equal access to political power for all citizens is nothing but a mirage.  Liberal democracy should not have been too problematic if the gap between the rich and the poor in the Philippines is not astronomical. Because of this gap, the rich are able to monopolize access to public institutions.  Vast resources secure members of large political clans in unbeatable position comes election times.

Dynastico politicians impede the growth of society in many ways. They use public moneys to promote their family interests. They convert government positions into a family business. They gang up on investors for payoffs. They use the civil service to favor their patrons and deny services to the needy. They bribe election officials and tolerate flawed election system to perpetrate their rule.

The ways dynastico politicians do politics have nothing to do with the common good. Their campaigns do not focus on what they can do for the common good but on what personal connections with them can do to the voters when they come to power. They use money and entertainers to seduce the voters. They employ violence and maintain armed groups to silence opposition. They do everything to keep their clan members in power.     

            More than any anti-dynasty law is the need for changing the system. The question of whether Binay, Poe, Roxas, or Duterte can lead the country better should not delude us. The system and the people have to change.

We are confronting intractable political problems. They are system historical and structural defects. A social revolution is needed to correct them. This is what we need.