People’s initiative eyed against political dynasty

A NEWLY-formed multisectoral organization is set to spearhead a massive campaign to ban political dynasty in the Philippines by launching a people’s initiative (PI) drive.

In a radio interview, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) – Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice, and Peace (ECSA-JP) chairman Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said the Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) is set to begin a PI drive to push for the passage of a law that will eradicate political dynasty from government.

“ANIM will spearhead a people’s initiative to enact the law against political dynasty,” said Bagaforo, who is one of the co-convenors of ANIM.

He said the broad-based coalition will zero in on political dynasty saying it is one of the main keys in eliminating corruption in government.

“The main call is to actually stop corruption. We believe that if there is a law on anti-dynasty, we can address even just 50 percent of corruption,” he added.

Bagaforo said the religious sector will join the campaign because they believe that the issue of corruption has a moral aspect.

“The issue of corruption involves a moral issue. It is stealing. The Commandment says you shall not steal,” he said.

Bagaforo also said CBCP-ECSA-JP will participate since corruption touches on the issue of societal injustice.

“It is an issue of justice. Corruption violates the human rights of others. It causes others to live in poverty,” he said.

According to Bagaforo, ANIM is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition composed of the religious sector, retired military and uniformed personnel, youth, women, businessmen and professionals, and civil society organizations.

Among the other convenors of the coalition are Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Gus Lagman, and retired officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).