Philippine political dynasties.pdf

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Part of Panorama

extracted text: ■ A dangerous form of nepotism in the upper brackets threatens to undermine the feeble foundations of Philippine democracy. PHILIPPINE POLITICAL DYNASTIES A new twist in the dynasty trend in Philippine politics is in the offing. Witness for instance the following cases: In San Juan, while Mayor Nicanor C. Ibuna is running for reelection as the NP of ficial candidate, his son, Ro dolfo has been nominated to the 8-man NP council. In Caloocan City, Mayor Macario Asistib is the NP official candidate while his son, Macario "Boy” Asistio, Jr. is eyeing a seat in the municipal council, Since the father is the head of the lo cal NP chapter, the selection of the young Asistio to the slate is certain. In Pasay City, Mayor Pablo Cuneta is the LP of ficial candidate. His son, who was earlier being boost ed to run for vice mayor un der the ticket of his father, is reportedly seeking a seat in the LP council slate in stead. Ordinarily, in various parts of the country, the husbandand-wife team has been the vogue, as in the following instances: In Ilocos Sur, while Rep. Floro Crisologo (N-Ilocos Sur), is the congressman of the province’s first district, his wife, Mrs. Carmen “Car meling” Crisologo, is the gov ernor. In Cagayan, while Rep. Tito Dupaya (N-Cagayan) is the congressman in the first district, his wife, Mrs. Teresa Dupaya, is the governor of the province. In Pampanga, while Fran cisco Nepomuceno is the gov ernor of the province, his wife, Mrs. Juanita Nepomu ceno, is also the congresswo man of the first district. The same thing prevails in Albay, where Venacio Ziga is the congressman of the second district, and his wife, Mrs. Tecla San Andres Ziga, is a senator. 18 Panorama In La Union, it is the other way around because Mrs. Magnolia Antonino is the congresswoman for the first district, while her hus band, Gaudencio Antonino, is a member of the senate. Another husband-and-wife team also exists in Cebu un der a different setup. Rep. Ramon Durano (N-Cebu) is one of the seven representa tives of the province, while his wife is the mayor of Danao City. While the husband-andwife team has been existing already for sometime, the father-and-son team will be put to a test as far as local politics is concerned. There existed sometime ago, however, a father-andson team, but under a new setup. This existed in this premiere province when the late Sen. Eulogio Rodriguez Sr., was senator and his son, the late Rep. Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr., was congressman of the second district. Later, while the late sen ator was still a member of the senate, another son, Isi dro S. Rodriguez, became governor of the province and is still the incumbent head of Rizal. — Salvador Elizalde, Manila Chronicle, Sept. 5, 1967. September 1967 19
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