Lacson jokes: I’ll file anti-political dynasty bill exempting fighting siblings

BATANGAS CITY, Batangas— Former Senator Panfilo Lacson on Satuday said in jest that he will file a bill against political dynasties but with an exemption to siblings who are fighting.

Lacson, who is running for senator in the upcoming polls, made the remark as five candidates of the administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas were asked again about their stand on political dynasties during their campaign sortie.

Lacson, along with administration senatorial candidates Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Erwin Tulfo, and Abby Binay reiterated their stand on the issue.

This time, they were asked if they are willing to file a bill against political dynasties.

Tulfo was the first one to answer and said that he will only amend the bill that Lacson will file.

“Mayroon na si Senator Lacson, sususugan ko na lang siguro kapag lumusot ‘yon aaprubahan ko, sasabihin ko approved ‘di ba. Tataas ako ng kamay kahit ayaw ng mga siblings ko,“ Tulfo said. 

(Senator Lacson already has one, I'll probably just amend it, if it gets through. I'll say approved, right? I'll raise my hand even if my siblings don't want to.)

At this point, Lacson said in jest, “Baka i-amend ko ‘yong aking bill. Kapag magkapatid na hindi magkasundo exempted.”

(Maybe I'll amend my bill. If the siblings are fighting with each other, they are exempted.)

“Biro lang ‘yung sa akin,” he clarified. 

(That's just a joke.)

Binay, meanwhile, raised what she described as “peculiarities” that should be considered in an anti-political dynasty bill.

“Alam po ninyo kapag ngayon na nag-iikot sa buong Pilipinas may realization talaga na may mga pamilya na ang lalaki ng angkan… So, ibig sabihin kung magkalaban ba silang tumatakbo hindi sila pwede parehas tumakbo dahil dynasty? So, those are peculiarities that [need] to be defined in the bill,” Binay said. 

(Going around the Philippines now, there's a realization that some political families are really big. So, that means if they're running against each other, they can't run together because they're a dynasty?)

Under the bills that he filed in the previous Congress, Lacson said his version prohibits from running those related to the second degree in the same locality.

Apart from Tulfo, Binay, and Sotto, six other Alyansa senatorial bets have close relatives who are either incumbent or candidates for other elective posts, namely former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Senator Bong Revilla Jr., Senator Pia Cayetano, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Francis Tolentino, and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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