THE same old political families in the region have dominated again in the last week’s filing of Certificates of Candidacies. Despite the insignificant entrance of few nameless newbies, who too, have sealed their intents to join the local political fray by filing their COCs last week, stealing the limelight still were the big political names as they dominate in the COMELEC official list of candidates for 2022 elections.
As expected, the weeklong COC filing was another spectacle of the local lords perpetuating family enterprise in politics against what is supposed to be an open public democratic political contest.
The unrestrained perpetuation of these demigods in the seat of power is becoming an unchallenged practice. The exercise of supposed boundless politics in democratic societies becomes effectively contained to a small few of elite aspirants limited to the political bigwigs.
Last week was another display of perpetuation of few fortunate political names – the Loreto-Petilla clan in Leyte, the Romualdezes in Tacloban, the Tans in Samar, the Espinas in Biliran, etc... It was no surprise that the weeklong filing of CoC became again a scene purely for mainstay political families. With practically family members enjoying the luxury of control and power, to make a political comeback as in the case of Leyte, or slide down and or switch elective posts or even take all the important posts if necessary as in the case of Tacloban, Samar, and Biliran, all in the exigency of family interest and for one purpose – the perpetuation of power.
So yes, if there is a handicap in the democratic process, that is it.
A cultural revolution would be necessary to get rid of this same old political demagoguery that is becoming a perpetual political malaise. There should be the raising of a new set of leaders. There should be young men and women responding to the challenge of leadership. While the playing field of politics is leveled to favor the elite few and known bigwigs, a revolution for change must resonate clear to the equally competent others still overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the trapos.
Let not politics be limited to the favored few!