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Senatorial bet vows to resign if he fails to pass anti-pol dynasty bill


A businessman who qualified as a senatorial bet for the 2013 elections said that if elected, he would work to pass a law prohibiting political dynasties — and that he would resign if it is not passed. Political newbie Ricardo Penson, president and CEO of Ausphil Tollways Corporation, said he has set his sights on putting an end to political dynasties through a movement, the Krusada Kontra Dynasty. "We will be campaigning nationwide to inform the people about the ills and effects of political dynasties…They’re destroying the democratic principle of representation in Congress,” independent hopeful Penson told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Tuesday. “Half of the Senate are members of political dynasties and the same have relatives in Congress and these have members in local government posts. It’s a family affair,” he added. Penson said he had a signed a “contract with the Filipino people” that once he becomes senator he would resign if he failed to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties from government. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has filed a bill prohibiting political dynasties that is currently being discussed at the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation. According to the bill, a political dynasty exists when the spouse of an incumbent elective official or relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity holds or runs for elective office simultaneously within the same province or occupies the same office immediately after the term of office of the incumbent official. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño also filed a similar bill, HB 3413, in the House of Representatives. “If I do not succeed in enacting a law that can be implemented prior to the 2016 elections, I will resign as senator. That means I don’t deserve [to be] in the Senate where the people do not respect the provisions of the Constitution,” Penson said. Article 2, Section 26 of the Constitution states that "the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Congress has yet to pass the implementing law. Penson urged his fellow candidates to also sign the contract and join the crusade. He said two independent senatorial candidates have already agreed to do so, but refused to give names. However, some senatorial candidates called Penson up and questioned him for going against political dynasties, he said. “Bakit namin daw tinitira ang dynasties. They say there are also good dynasties. [But] there’s no such thing as a good dynasty. A dynasty is a dynasty and every time it disenfranchises majority of the people,” Penson said.  The president of the firm which contracted the Katipunan (C5)-La Mesa-San Jose del Monte-Norzagaray tollway project, Penson said the movement has gained the support of over 2,000 supporters since Monday. This he said could double to 5,000 next week. Asked if he has family members who have held government posts, he said his great-uncle Fortunato Halili served as Bulacan governor in 1949. Also, his mother’s uncle Salvador Lagdameo served an appointive position – the country’s treasurer under the Commonwealth period in 1936. Penson’s mother is also the second cousin of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Lagdameo Jr.’s father. But this does not qualify as political dynasty, Penson said, since his relationship with Lagdameo is “four times removed.” “His father and my mother are second cousins. Their fathers are first cousins. Their grandfathers are brothers. [So] don’t dwell on that. It’s so far removed,” he said. For the 2013 midterm elections, senators who have or might have a relative in the Senate are Pia Cayetano and brother, re-electionist Alan Peter Cayetano; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and son Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr; and Jinggoy Estrada and half brother San Juan Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito. — BM, GMA News

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