For 2nd time, SC junks petition to abolish political dynasties in PHL

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed for the second time a petition seeking to abolish political dynasties in the Philippines. The junked petition was filed last January 28 by first-time senatorial candidate and lawyer Ricardo Penson, who asked the high tribunal to compel Congress to pass an enabling law defining a "political dynasty," as stipulated under Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Section 26 states: "The state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law." Penson is president and CEO of Ausphil Tollways Corporation who formed a movement against political dynasty called, Krusada Kontra Dynasty (Crusade Against Dynasty).   In his petition, Penson said that the "political and economic life" of the country's 90 million Filipinos "continue to be controlled and/or dictated upon by four political clan alliances," namely the Lakas Families, the National People's Coalition Family, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) Family, and the Liberal Party Family.   He also cited a study by the Asian Institute of Management and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation on political dynasties showing that 70 percent of jurisdiction-based members of Congress belong to political dynasties. Earlier petition Earlier the high court had dismissed a similar petition filed by Louis "Barok" Biraogo in October last year. Biraogo's motion for reconsideration was likewise junked in January for lack of merit.   Like Penson, Biraogo, in his 26-page petition for mandamus, also cited Section 26, Article II of the 1987 Constitution as basis for prohibiting political dynasties from running in elections.   Penson said the Supreme Court had previously ruled (Tatad vs. Sandiganbayan, et. al.) that "failure to perform a duty for a long period of time is both a violation of the right to procedural and substantive due process."   Penson noted several bills on political dynasties have been filed but none has been enacted so far. "The introduction has thus become illusory and merely promotive of false hopes," he said.   He added that the non-passage of an enabling law against political dynasties has resulted in "an abrogation of their sacred duty, which unless remedied, the constitutional provision will continue to remain pure rhetoric and the noble objectives behind its institution merely illusory." Another pending petition With the dismissal of Biraogo and Penson's respective petitions, the last petition against political dynasties that is pending with the high court is the one filed by a group led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. He was joined in the petition by Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Leonard De Vera, Eduardo Bringas, Vicente Velasquez, and Raymundo Jarque. The petitioners cited a bill against political dynasty introduced by then-Sen. Guingona in 1987. The bill passed the Senate with 16 votes in favor, three opposition, and one abstention.   "Congress [then] took no action on the bill passed by the Senate. The bill died in the House of Representatives," the petitioners said.   The petitioners added it was "appalled by Congress' inaction... Every bill in Congress against political dynasties was stifled by congressional inaction." A bill against political dynasty, filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, is pending before the Senate. A counterpart bill was filed by Rep. Teddy Casiño at the House of Representatives. - VVP, GMA News