No solution to political dynasties yet – Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes that the provisions on political dynasty in the proposed federal constitution will have no teeth.

The Consultative Committee (Con-Com) tasked to review the 1987 Constitution included in its draft charter a prohibition on political dynsties to grant “equal access to opportunities for public service” in the federal government.

Sotto, in reviewing the draft constitution, however, said the Con-Com's proposal does not guarantee a solution to political dynasty as he claimed that paramours of elective officials would still be allowed to seek government office.

“Ang nakalagay doon, first and second level of consanguinity, legitimate or illegitimate. Ang ibig nilang sabihin doon, anak sa labas (What's prohibited in the draft charter is first and second level of consanguinity, legitmate or illegitimate. The Con-Com was referring to illegitimate children),” Sotto said.

“Pero hindi nakalagay doon 'girlfriend or boyfriend.' Still, ganoon pa rin, the power of the official transgresses all factors kapag kasama 'yong mistress. Eh, hindi naman kasama 'yan doon eh. Binasa ko, ang nakalagay first and second level of consanguinity, hindi naman kasama doon sa second level of consanguinity 'yong girlfriend,” he told reporters.

Sotto had been opposing measures against political dynasty in the country as he argued that it is “unfair” to the legitimate relatives of an incumbent official.

Last March, he registered a dissenting signature on a committee report endorsing the prohibition of political dynasties in the Senate plenary.

Senator Francis Escudero, on the other hand, said including the partners of elective officials in the prohibition would be problematic.

“Paano mo mapapatunayan 'yon? Kasi ang kasal mayro'ng dokumento, pwedeng ipagbawal yung asawa,” Escudero said in an earlier press briefing in Senate.

Escudero said he has yet to study the proposed ban on political dynasty and its possible implication on the country's democracy.