The end of political dynasties, trapos in RP

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord…” (Proverbs 16:20, the Holy Bible).

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THE END OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES AND TRAPOS IN RP? The “exploratory meeting” that men and women from different religious groups held on Sunday, June 14, 2015 in San Juan City, could very well represent a powerful wake-up call for politicians who belong to traditional political parties and political dynasties which have lorded it over Philippine politics for a long time.

That meeting undeniably signals the beginning of the end of the unchallenged lordship of traditional political parties and political dynasties in the country. Billed as “Pili-pino, a People’s Primary”, the gathering has for its principal objective the formation of a coalition of 1,000 or more organizations to empower ordinary Filipinos to have a say in selecting the candidates for important political positions in every election in the Philippines.

Those who attended the meeting agreed with the presentation made by lawyer Alex Lacson, the prime mover of the coalition, about the need to fight traditional political parties and politicians belonging to political dynasties if we are to propel the country and our people to genuine reforms.

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COALITION OF 1,000 ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT DYNASTIES AND TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS: The idea behind the coalition was actually borrowed by Alex and his core group from the primaries in the United States conducted by the rival political parties in that country to choose who their candidates would be for president and vice president.

Making his explanation before a crowd that included pastors and bishops of Protestant and Evangelical churches in the country, as well as priests and lay leaders of the Catholic Church, and former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., former Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlileo, former Bulacan Rep. Willy Villarama and media personality Winnie Monsod, Lacson clarified that each of the 1,000 organizations forming the coalition would select their candidates.

The candidates would then be invited to talk before coalition members and present their plans and programs once they get elected. Thereafter, the members of the organizations in the coalition would then vote for their choices, which would then be tallied by a secretariat.

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COALITION TO VOTE ONLY FOR ITS CHOSEN CANDIDATES: The candidates that will receive the highest number of votes from among the coalition members would then become the official candidates of the coalition. For the 2016 elections, however, the coalition members would only be voting for their choices for president and vice-president, due to time constraints.

Lacson emphasized that the organizations forming the coalition would have to assure that whoever would be finally selected as the coalition’s candidates would be fully supported by the members of the coalition organizations, especially in making sure that the members of the organizations would be voting strictly for the coalition’s choices.

To make sure that the coalition’s choices would pursue the agenda of reform that the coalition envisions but is yet to formulate in the days leading up to the election, the chosen candidates will be required to sign a commitment to pursue and implement the coalition’s agenda of reform. More of this next issue.

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PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way), a Bible study and prayer session on radio, airs Mondays to Fridays, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at DWAD 1098 kHz on the AM band. For replays, go to www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan or www.facebook.com/ANDKNK and scroll for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts. Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0917 984 24 68. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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