MANILA – Disqualification cases were filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against five members of what the petitioners described as prominent political dynasties in the country.
The Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM), a multisectoral coalition led by retired uniformed personnel, along with some bishops and leaders of faith-based organizations, filed the case before the poll body late last week.
Respondents include former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for Davao City mayor; Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc of Ilocos Norte; House Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte running for reelection; Sen. Cynthia Villar who is running for congresswoman of Las Piñas City; and Vice Gov. Peter Cua of Catanduanes.
Aside from the mentioned above, ANIM also asked the Comelec to disqualify all other similarly situated candidates.
“The Comelec should disqualify the immediate family members of incumbent mayors, governors, and district representatives from running for the same elective positions to replace or succeed their relatives,” ANIM said.
The group cited the intent of the framers of the Constitution on its anti-dynasty provisions to prohibit immediate family members to run for the same position to replace or succeed their relatives.
“All provisions of the Constitution are presumed to be self-executory even in the absence of an enabling law, and in case of doubt, it must be resolved in favor of the constitutional presumption,” they added.
The lead petitioners are Bishop Colin Bagaforo and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, president and vice president, respectively, of Caritas Philippines.
They were joined by a number of retired military officers such as Major General Reynaldo Reyes of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Major General Wilfredo Franco, and Brigadier General Noel Delos Reyes of the Philippine National Police, and Colonel Guillermo Cunanan and Captain Roberto Yap of of the Philippine Army, and lawyers Alexander Lacson and Louie Redoble.
“We are hoping that other Filipinos will also follow them in efforts to fight political dynasties,” ANIM said./PN
