Presidential aspirants Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson are among the candidates who are vocal in saying they are in favor of banning political dynasties during the Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debate held on Sunday night.
Pacquiao, however, said that even if he supports the passage of an enabling law that would ban political dynasties, what is important is following the law and court decisions, including payment of taxes.
The boxing icon turned senator’s comment was an apparent dig on the unpaid estate tax of the family of rival candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. who was absent in the debates.
According to Pacquiao, there are many laws in the country that have been passed but are not being implemented.
He pointed out that some rich families do not follow the law, including the Supreme Court decisions. His comment was a seeming reference to the estate tax controveresy of the Marcos’ family.
“Ang sumusunod lang dyan yung mahihirap pero yung mayayaman hindi sinusunod ultimo nga pagbayad ng taxes eh hindi pa nasusunod eh inissue na ng Supreme Court yan (Those who follow the law are the poor, but the rich ones themselves do not follow, even just paying taxes even though the Supreme Court has already issued an order),” Pacquiao said during the debate.
"Kahit anong batas pa ang gagawin mo, political dynasty pa yan, kung hindi talaga sinusunod. Walang mangyayari sa ating bansa. Kailangan ipakulong, yun ang talagang importante sa bansa natin (Even if we enact many laws, even about political dynasty, if nobody follows, nothing will happen in this country. They have to be put in jail, that is what’s important in this country),” he added.
Lacson, for his part, said the Constitution clearly bans political dynasties, but Congress has yet to pass a law to enable it.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief lamented that the absence of a law on political dynasties has led to “warlordism” and abuse of some political families who have dominated a number of government positions.
"Ang masamang dulot ng political dynasty, nagpo-promote ito ng warlordism lalo na sa malalayong lugar na halos hindi inabot ng presence ng national government (what is wrong about political dynasty is that it promotes warlordims, especially in far-flung places where there is no presence of the national government),” Lacson said.
“Doon papalit-palit lamang at doon lumalabas ang abuso. Kung matapos ang termino, three terms, papalitan ng asawa o ng kapatid o ng kung sino man at nananatili sila sa power na nawawala na ang checks and balance (They just change terms and there the abuses are done. After he finishes his term, three terms, the spouse or sibling will take charge. So the system of checks and balances are compromised),” he explained.
"Kung ako ay tatanungin, ang sabi ko hindi importante pero ayaw ko po ng political dynasty. Kailangan po talaga na magkaroon tayo ng enabling law sa lalong madaling panahon para i-define kung ano yung degree ng relasyon na ipagbabawal kung magkaroon man ng batas ang political dynasty (If you would ask me, I said it’s not important but I don’t like political dynasty. We really need to pass an enabling law at the soonest time possible so we can define to what degree of relationship should be banned if ever we enact a law on political dynasty)," Lacson said.