BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday
said while President Fidel Ramos is entitled to his opinion that
political dynasties are undesirable, nothing bars members of one
family from holding on to elective posts in the absence of an
anti-dynasty law.
"Hindi natin sila mapapag-bawalan. It’s the
free choice of persons to be in business, in politics. Hindi
natin sila mapipigilan… Hindi natin masasabi na huwag gawin," he
said.
He said the constitutional ban on political
dynasties need an enabling law.
Asked if Malacañang would support a bill
authored by Sen. Alfredo Lim fleshing out the constitutional ban
on dynasties, Ermita said he wants to see the proposed measure
first.
Ramos on Monday said political leadership is
not something that can be transferred from one family member to
another.
Ramos cited as example the members of the
family of President Arroyo who are either seeking reelection or
eyeing new elective positions.
Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo is seeking
reelection in Pampanga while another son, Diosdado Ignacio "Dato"
Arroyo Jr., is set to run in the first district of Camarines Sur.
Arroyo’s brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio "Iggy"
Arroyo is seeking reelection in the fifth district of Negros.
The President’s sister-in-law, Marilou
Arroyo, is eyeing the congressional seat of the fourth district
of Iloilo or as a nominee of the party-list group Babae Ako.
Earlier, administration officials denounced
the Genuine Opposition for fielding Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and
Aquilino Pimentel III in the Senate race.
Cayetano is a younger brother of Sen. Pia
Cayetano while Pimentel III is a son of Senate minority leader
Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Ramos’ spokesman Ed Malay denied the former
president was referring to the Arroyo family when he raised the
issue of political dynasties.
He said a political dynasty is when an
outgoing elective official "decides to pass on the mantle of
leadership in his electoral jurisdiction to a next of kin."
Malay cited the case of Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani (Lakas-CMD)
who plans to have his wife succeed him.
"Mrs. Agbayani can run but not under
Lakas-CMD, of which she is not a member… (if) the plan of
Governor Agbayani to have his wife replace him as governor is
not an attempt to establish a political dynasty, I don’t know by
what other name we can call that," he added.
He said Ramos asked Lakas members to instead
name Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino as official candidate for governor.
Ermita said the concerns expressed by Ramos
over the "raiding" of the Lakas party by the Kabalikat ng
Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) is shared by other leaders of Lakas.
He said what is important is that Lakas and
Kampi are part of the administration coalition and they both
support the Team Unity senatorial line-up.
Ramos expressed disgust over the continued
raiding of the ranks of Lakas, of which he is chairman emeritus,
by Kampi, the political party that Arroyo founded.
He said that as coalition partners, Lakas and Kampi should
work in harmony in achieving their goals and not let petty
quarrels and politics prevail.
