Expert lists 3 reasons why political dynasties end

There are three defining reasons why the midterm elections in May either perpetuated or ended the reign of political dynasties in some parts of the country, according to an expert.

In an episode of GMA News TV's Investigative Documentaries last Thursday, Dean Ronald Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government said that one factor could be the failure of succeeding members of the political dynasty to live up to their predecessors' reputations in one way or another.

"'Yung unang mga pinuno n'yan usually napaka-charismatic, napakahusay kaya nga sila naluklok sa pwesto pero 'yung mga anak at 'yung mga apo hindi naman necessarily kasinghusay nung una," Mendoza said.

"So kung makikita ito ng ating mga kababayan, understandable na hindi kasinglakas 'yung suporta nila sa mga magiging papalit compared to the original," he added.

Another factor would be the lack of development in the area governed by the political dynasty.

"Ilang dekada nang namuno 'yung iisang pamilyang 'yan at makikita nila na baka walang major na pagbabago sa kanilang mga buhay... naghahanap na talaga ng ibang alternative leaders ang ating mga kababayan," he said.

Outright abuse of power would be the third reason why voters end the rule of a political dynasty.

"Ginawa nang family business 'yung politika. Yumayaman sila sa pwesto samantalang hindi naman umuunlad 'yung lugar kung saan namumuno sila. Kung parami na sila nang parami aba'y magigising din kahit papaano 'yung ating mga botante," Mendoza said.

Among the political families who won the recent polls were the Villars and Aguilars in Las Piñas City, the Abalos clan of Mandaluyong City, the Binays of Makati City, and the Cayetanos of Taguig City.

Other renowned family names in the political arena, on the other hand, have been stripped of government positions.

As to why dynasties persist in the first place, another expert in the story said that  many Filipinos have an "umbilical cord" attached to some of these political families.

"'Yun ang problema sa ating bansa, e. 'Yung relasyon natin sa mga leader natin, paternalistic. Masyado tayong dependiente sa kanila," said university professor and public finance expert Dr. Milwida Guevara of the Movement for Good Governance. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News