| A law that would prohibit the build-up of political | | | | Manuel Roxas II, Jamby Madrigal, Richard Gordon, |
| dynasty anywhere in the Philippines is about to | | | | Lito Lapid, Joker Arroyo and Francis Pangilinan. |
| change the political future of the country once it is | | | | Senator Pia Cayetano did not sign the report, |
| enacted into law. | | | | news sources said. Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Lito |
| Sen. Panfilo Lacson, author of the Anti-Political | | | | Lapid and Juan Miguel Zubiri had expressed their |
| Dynasty Act, according to a report, succeeded in | | | | intention to inhibit from signing the bill. |
| refilling the bill before Congress went into recess | | | | Soon we will know the true colors of these |
| on October 14. | | | | senators. Those who will vote against this bill may |
| Sen. Lacson, who is not known to have fielded | | | | be ostracized by the public for putting their own |
| any members of his family onto the political arena | | | | interest ahead of the people's. |
| in the country, deserved to be commended for | | | | There is a touch of irony in this initiative since |
| this landmark bill. | | | | Gloria Arroyo would have the final say on |
| Once signed into law by Pres. Gloria | | | | Lacson's anti-political dynasty bill. The public should |
| Macapagal-Arroyo, the anti-political dynasty bill will | | | | watch out how the president will handle this bill |
| cover the elections in 2010. As a consequence we | | | | since Gloria's family, according to a Philippine Star's |
| will be seeing political ambitions of many local | | | | news article, is "a best example of what a political |
| politicians vanished into oblivion before the much | | | | dynasty is." |
| anticipated 2010 polls. | | | | An excerpt of the news report reads: "In |
| This bill should have been passed a long time ago, | | | | Malacanang, President Arroyo is seen as the best |
| but as they say: "better late than never." It is | | | | example of what political dynasty is. Presidential |
| only in the Philippines where we find too much | | | | sons Dato Arroyo and Juan Miguel Zubiri are |
| leniency on the issue of political dynasty. | | | | representatives of Camarines Sur and Pampanga, |
| Our history is replete with accounts that political | | | | respectively. The president's brother-in-law, Ignacio |
| dynasty brings more harm than good to our | | | | Arroyo, is a representative of Negros while Rep. |
| nation. Political dynasty is one of the root causes | | | | Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, another sibling of First |
| why it is difficult to address the problem of graft | | | | Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, has been |
| and corruption. | | | | accredited recently as a representative of |
| With this law getting enough support in the | | | | Kasangga party-list group." |
| Senate, we should expect a nationwide cleanup of | | | | Again, kudos to Senator Ping Lacson. Lacson's bill |
| powerful families dominating politics in various | | | | could be his enduring legacy in the Senate and in |
| parts of the country. | | | | Philippine history books. |
| The senators who supported the committee | | | | Lacson will be remembered for long for this |
| report are (take note) Chiz Escudero, Benigno | | | | gesture of patriotism. |
| Simeon Aquino III, Rodolfo Biazon, Loren Legarda, | | | | |