In the event that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio runs for the presidency or vice presidency in the upcoming May 2022 national elections, such move is clearly within the definition of a political dynasty.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a stalwart at the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) political party, said this was one of the reasons why he has been pushing for the passage of the measure that would ban political dynasties.
“Under the definition of the bill, yes (she falls in that category). And under the definition of my own draft bill, yes,” Pimentel said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.
In the 17th Congress, Pimentel had pushed for the passage of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, that was under approved by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms panel and signed by 13 senators. However, the measure failed to advance in the legislative mill.
Pimentel stressed that the essence of the bill is to object to members of a political family dominating the country’s political landscape and give other candidates a fair chance at public service.
“The essence of the objection on why a close relative should not be allowed to run in the election while the other close relative is an incumbent is because of the assumption that the incumbent relative would be using resources to help the relative who is running in the election while he is still in office,” Pimentel explained
“That’s the basic assumption. That’s why we should prevent it. But then, that’s only in a bill, a proposal,” he stressed.
Asked if he believes a political dynasty bill will ever pass in the Philippines, Pimentel said it is possible but with the help of the incumbent president
“Maybe in the next presidential term with the help of the incumbent president he should push it,” he said.