"What is happening in Makati mirrors the situation in many other places in the country."
It must have been difficult for former Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. to referee the sibling political rivalry of his children Junjun and the current Makati Mayor Abigail. It looks increasingly apparent that both children will slug it out on May if one will not be prevailed upon to withdraw.
In many respects, what is happening in Makati mirrors what is happening in many parts of the country. Many political families have strong holds on many cities and provinces. In Makati, the husband of Abigail is already a congressman in one of the two congressional districts of the city. The former Vice President will also run for congressman in the other district. With the mayorship in the hands of another Binay, the three most important political positions of the top financial center of the country will be in the hands of one family. This is not even counting another Binay, who is a senator of the realm. If all of them win in May 2019, they would be at the helm of Makati politics for 33 years. To be fair to the Binays, Makati under them has progressed rapidly. Whether this is because of good managerial abilities, it will be left to historians to judge.
In other parts of the country, dynastic rule has had very mixed results. In some cities and provinces governed by single families for a long time, economic progress have not been as rapid compared to areas where political leaders and their families do not stay in their positions forever. But the tendency it seems is toward dynastic politics. Even places which have normally changed political leadership are now being taken over by children or wives. In Pangasinan, for example, when Governor Amado Espino’s term expired in 2016, his son took over and is now the governor. He, on the other hand became a congressman. In La Union, the long presence of the Ortega family in the political life of province is as strong as ever. The family has been involved in La Union politics as early as the turn of the 20th century. In Ilocos Sur, it is no longer news about Chavit Singson being in charge. It used to be that he would either be the governor or congressman. Now, he does not even have to run anymore to be able to control Ilocos Sur politics.
Everyone knows Ilocos Norte is Marcos country. There are many other such places in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. In the Visayas, there are the venerable Osmeñas of Cebu. In Mindanao, Davao is considered Duterte country. The citizens of both cities, however, have benefited from the rapid economic growth which should be considered as more the exception rather than the rule.
Still, the unmistakable political direction is toward family members succeeding each other when their kin has maximized allowed terms and are no longer allowed to run. This is in spite of attempts of some well-meaning sectors of the society who are spearheading the abolition of political dynasties.
Recently, the constitutional commission tasked by President Duterte to draft a new constitution came up with a provision to eliminate political dynasties. But before it can even be debated seriously, it was shot down by many members of Congress from both houses. It is becoming more likely this effort will again fail. In fact, there is a high probability that the constitution may not be ratified at all.
To go back to Makati, it is not only the city in the Metropolitan area where political control is in the hands of one family. There is San Juan, ruled by the family of former President Estrada for more than 40 years. This time, however, another family, the Zamoras, wants to take over the political reign of San Juan from the Estradas.
There are also the Eusebios of Pasig and lest we forget, the Cayetanos of Taguig.
So, the Binays are not really that unique. It has caught media attention because the family was unable to settle their differences and ended with Binay Sr. making a Solomonic decision to allow both siblings to run for mayor. With all the controversies generated by the failure of the country to abolish political dynasties, I have not come across any in-depth academic study about it pointing to the advantages or disadvantages of dynastic political rules. All that we are basing our pronouncements on are our observations which sometimes are deceptive and do not tell the whole story.
Historically, we can only look at the overthrow of long reigning monarchies in Europe where the oppressed people ended royal dynasties by chopping the heads of their kings and queens. There may still be Kings and Queens there but these royals only reign. They no longer govern.
The anti-dynasty provision of the 1987 Constitution as we know has never been enforced because there was no law promulgated to implement it. Why President Cory Aquino did not pass an implementing law is difficult to understand considering her aversion to everything Marcos. The usual defense of politicians with wives and children in politics is that it is the people after all making the final decision to put family members in office.
Another smart way politicians go around term limits if wives and children cannot run is for them to run as vice mayors or vice governors. It is really all a joke but the biggest reason why the anti-dynasty proponents cannot make any headway is that the public has not really shown any outrage strong and loud enough to make the politicians pay attention to effect change.
