Dynasty members battle each other for local positions

As the local campaign period begins, some dynasties are imploding. In the province of Camarines Sur, for example, Rep. Luis Villafuerte is set to run against his grandson, Miguel, for governor. Villafuerte had a falling out with his son, Miguel’s father and incumbent Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymond “LRay”, in 2004. LRay supposedly removed his father’s trusted men from the provincial capitol when LRay assumed office that year, poisoning the relationship between father and son. Elections are supposed to be unifying events for political families when they mobilize their resources to get members elected and perpetuate the clan in power. But some places have become too small for ambitious dynastic politicians who can't wait their turn. In a few cases, elections are a battleground between feuding family members, like the Villafuertes. In Cebu province, the Durano family also has members running against each other. Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. and his brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III are running against each other for mayor in the May elections. Boy pledges allegiance to the One Cebu party, while Nito is from the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party, chaired by his son and Cebu congressman Ramon “Red” Durano VI. Merry-go-round For most political families, however, the May elections are still a merry-go-round where family members are given a chance to serve in political positions that have, in some cases, remained in family hands for generations. According to GMA News Research data, at least 17 political families have held a major post for 30 years or more. Up for grabs in the local elections are: - 233 seats in the House of Representatives; - 80 seats for both the positions of governors and vice governors; - 766 provincial board members seats; - 143 slots for city mayor and city vice mayor; - 1,491 for both municipal mayor and municipal vice mayor posts; - 1,598 city councilor seats; and - 11,932 posts for municipal councilors. Family harmony For the most part, political dynasties for the most part have harmonious relationships among their respective family members, and use elections to consolidate their power. According to GMA News Research’s latest data on Philippine political clans, more than 400 political families in the country’s 80 provinces have members who hold more than one political post, from the presidency down to barangay-level positions. Around 80 percent of the country's senators are from political families, while eight in 10 governors and in city mayors belong to a political family. GMA News Research data also showed that more than 70 percent of district representatives are members of a political family, and that at least 17 political families control or had controlled a single post for 30 to 55 years straight. Furthermore, research also showed that at least 68 out of 80 incumbent governors, or 85 percent, are members of political families. Meanwhile,  at least 118 out of 140 incumbent city mayors, or 84 percent, are members of political families. The study said that even if the answer to the question of whether political clans will be able to retain their influence in this year’s polls is still elusive, the crunched data show that the odds seem to be in their favor. The Philippines has no law restricting political dynasties. Dynasties are prohibited under the 1987 Constitution but Congress has yet to pass an enabling law to enforce this provision.  — Gian C. Geronimo/ELR/HS, GMA News