P-Noy and political dynasties

This is in reaction to the news item titled “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gunning for 2nd House term” (Inquirer, 7/28/12). In the article, Christian V. Esguerra and Tonette Orejas quoted Arroyo’s spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, confirming that former president and now Pampanga Representative Arroyo is gunning for a second term in the House of Representatives come the May 2013 midterm elections.

One wonders, or doubts, if Arroyo, with her illness and the criminal cases filed against her, still has the physical strength and energy to run for reelection. That she has the nerve to run only reveals how power-hungry or “power-crazy” she is.

Well, she is the same person who publicly promised not to run for president in 2004, but ran anyway. To be sure, Arroyo is allowed by the Constitution to run for another term in the House. But everyone knows that she ran and will be running again not to render genuine public service but primarily for political survival, to use her position as a shield against criminal charges that have been, or might be, filed against her.

Aside from her, three other Arroyos are currently House members, namely, Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo of the second district of Camarines Sur, Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of Ang Kasangga Party List, and Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of Ang Galing Party List. Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, the former president’s brother-in-law, died early this year.

The Arroyos belong to a prominent political dynasty in the country. The eradication of political dynasties, one of the people’s most sought-after reform agenda, has never been given much attention, if not totally forgotten. President Aquino is not even supporting bills seeking the dismantling of political dynasties. We don’t know if his administration wants or will take the initiative to dismantle—or discourage the rise of—political dynasties in the country. Like the Arroyos, he himself comes from a prominent political dynasty. Will he seriously push for the dismantling of political dynasties in the country as part of his political reform agenda?

—JOHN LEONARD MONTERONA,

regional coordinator,

Migrante-Middle East,

[email protected]