Because-they-can, as long as a complicit Congress desists from crafting and passing an enabling law prohibiting political dynasties, as provided for in Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, political dynasts were out in full force, filing Certificates of Candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections.

ALEX MAGNO. So it goes that over the last week we saw whole families filing their certificates of candidacy. We have relatives in Congress and relatives running for mayor and vice mayor in the same elections. Contrary to the intention of the Constitution, term limits encouraged rather than discouraged political family dominance. Seeking elective posts has become a family business.

The most brazen yet, because very high-profile, is the family of Finance Sec. Ralph Recto a.k.a. VATman: “star for all seasons” Vilma Santos-Recto is running yet again for governor of Batangas, son Lucky Manzano is running for vice governor, and son Ryan Recto is running for Congress rep.

Vilma, 70, has been in politics since 1998 when she was elected mayor of Lipa City, and then reelected in 2001 and 2004.  In 2007 she was elected Batangas governor and reelected in  2010 and 2013.  She was elected Batangas Congress rep in 2016, and again in 2019. She begged off running for a 3rd term in 2022, pleading pandemic exhaustion, and Ralph, her mentor, ran and was elected in her stead.

Ralph the Recto, 60, has himself been in politics since 1992 when he was elected Batangas Congress rep, and then reelected in 1995 and 1998. In 2001 he was elected to the senate where he authored the unpopular EVAT Law that cost him reelection in 2007, but he was reelected anyway in 2010 and 2016. He was back as Congress rep 2022 to 2024. Currently he is Finance Secretary of the BBMarcos admin, and quite unpopular again for his handling of Philhealth funds and for pushing and applauding the VAT on digital services that will of course be passed on to us customers.

Can’t help thinking back on the original Recto, Claro M., the nationalist and constitutionalist, and wishing he had lived long enough to have made an impact, an impression, a difference, in the politics of Ralph at marami pang iba who shamelessly revel in this dynastic system that allows them to dance around term limits, claiming that they seek only to serve nation when they really do nothing but take advantage of bad economic policies that do not serve the common good.

Sabi nga ni Franco sa Facebook:

Dynasty is family business disguised as public service.

And please, huwag sisihin ang mga botante, hindi sila bobo. They are navigating the political quicksand of ayudas the best way they know how, in aid of survival. And there is no lifting them up as long as dynasties persist in their viciously greedy and mercenary ways.

Read “Political dynasties choking the Philippines” by Atty. Josephus Jimenez.

These family dynasties which have been dominating the government and controlling appointments and public funds should be held responsible for the sad state of the Philippine economy. They should explain to the people why this country has not progressed in the same manner that Thailand and Vietnam have managed to prosper. Vietnam was pulverized by the bombings in the war between the north and the south. And yet, today, Vietnam has a better economy than the Philippines. We even rely on the Vietnamese to produce the rice that we so badly need. We have more highly-educated business managers and businessmen, industrialists and traders, but Thailand has a better economy than ours.

The political dynasties should explain to the future generation why this country has the worst environmental conditions and take the blame for why our country’s development is stunted and choked by dirty politics, and the massive corruption, which is among the worst not only in Asia but in the whole world. Political dynasties are the biggest cause why this country is going down and down and down.  https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion