THE group petitioning for the disqualification of the candidacies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Ilocos Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, and Catanduanes Vice Gov. Peter Cua called on the public to carry on the fight against political dynasties.
"We are encouraging the public to file separate disqualification cases against the dynasties in their respective areas because these dynasties can only be disqualified as candidates or removed from office if a disqualification case is filed against them. If no disqualification case is filed against them, they will remain in office," said Alex Lacson, Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) lead lawyer for the Anti-Dynasty Campaign.
"We in ANIM are willing to help the people. The public may reach us at anim.samasama@gmail.com. We can send them the pro-forma petition for disqualification, whether against a congressman, governor or mayor. They will just fill in the blank. We will also provide a step-by-step guideline," added retired Army captain Roberto Yap.
In its disqualification petition, ANIM argued that it was the clear intention of the framers of the Constitution that the immediate family members (spouse, children, parents and siblings) of a graduating congressman, governor or mayor could not run for the same position to replace and succeed their graduating relatives.
The ANIM petitioners said the constitutional prohibitions against political dynasties also apply to the immediate family of incumbent district representatives, governors and mayors.
The Supreme Court en banc reiterated the ruling in 1997 in Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS. It reiterated this ruling again in 2007 in Tondo Medical Center Employees Association v. CA.
ANIM's lead petitioners are Bishop Colin Bagaforo and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, president and vice president, respectively, of Caritas Philippines, retired Army major general Reynaldo Reyes and Police Maj. Gen. Wilfredo Franco and Brig. Gen. Noel de los Reyes, and Army Col. Guillermo Cunanan and Capt. Roberto Yap.
The group is focusing on the core issues of corruption, political dynasties, and electoral reforms.
Bagaforo said political dynasties "have turned politics into a family business, using the machinery of our government, for their personal enrichment rather than the public good."
Alminaza said many politicians "seem to have lost their delicadeza. They seem to be unmindful of the seven social sins attributed to Gandhi, one of which is politics without principles."
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