Sotto says 'political dynasty' should be defined

Vice presidential candidate Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday that there should be a clear definition of what constitutes a political dynasty.

The 1987 Constitution prohibits the proliferation of political dynasties. However, it cannot be enforced because there is no enabling law. 

“If there’s no concentrated influence, hindi political dynasty. Kung may concentrated influence, political dynasty 'yan,” Sotto said in a radio interview when asked about his stance on the issue.

(If there's no concentrated influence, that's not a political dynasty. If there is concentrated influence, it's a political dynasty.)

“Dapat i-define natin.. Kasi kung sa isang area, concentrated ang influence then you can call it political dynasty pero in the case na isa taga doon, isa taga rito hindi na political dynasty yun,” the Senate President said.

(It is necessary to define it. You can call it a political dynasty if there is a concentrated influence in one area, but it is not a political dynasty if one person holds office in one area and the other in another.)

Sotto previously denied observations that his family has become an emerging dynasty in Philippine politics, saying they are serving in different areas of government.

Two of the senator’s children are serving in Quezon City — Vice Mayor Gian Carlo Sotto and Councilor Lala Sotto. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is his nephew.

Sotto, a member of the Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC), is gunning for the country’s second-highest post in Eleksyon 2022.

He is running alongside Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is now an independent presidential candidate after resigning from Partido Reporma, whose leadership last week switched its support to Vice President Leni Robredo. — VBL, GMA News