Nancy Binay Rejects Anti-Dynasty Bill
06/09/2015 – Manila | Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday rejected the idea of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago to demolish political dynasty in the country.
With most of her adult family members serving in the government, Senator Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay said there should be no law that would limit families who want to serve the public through elected government positions.
“Para kasi sa amin mas important is the will of the people, di ba? We subject ourselves to an election process. So ang number one din na kailangan is to ensure a clean and honest election,” she said when asked if she supports the anti-political dynasty bill.
Binay’s father is Vice President Jejomar Binay, her sister is Makati Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay, and her brother is Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.
Sen. Mirriam Defensor Santiago filed a Senate Bill 2649 on January 2011, limiting family members of any incumbent politician to run for election. The bill is still currently pending before a committee.
Binay told reporters that the Bill is alarming to those families who are occupying appointed posts in the government. Apparently, the senator is referring to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, who has nine family members occupying different government positions.
“Ang mas nakakabahala sa akin [ay], kung natatandaan ninyo, may lumabas na news story na apparently this family na halos ilan silang appointed to very important positions,” she said.
Abad’s daughter Julia Abad is the Presidential Management Staff head while his wife is Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad, who is also a House Deputy Speaker.
“Ako, mas nakakabahala yun more than yung sitwasyon namin. Kasi kami in the end of the day, pag ayaw sa amin ng taumbayan hindi naman kami mahahalal,” Binay said, adding the people should be given liberty to choose their career.
“Why limit yung choices ng mga botante just because we share the same last name,” she said. “Unang-una, di ba may pamilya ng doktor, may pamilya ng lawyers, in fact, paulit-ulit ko ngang sinasabi din na, at least, ikaw kung gusto mong maging doktor katulad ng magulang mo, all you have to do is take a course, and then pass the board or bar, pwede ka nang magpractice ng profession, whether doctor or lawyer.”
Some political analysts believe that Santiago’s Bill would not pass because most of the members of the Senate and Congress will be the first victims if they pass the bill.
“Political dynasties in the Philippines have been a cancer and the main reason why the country is not recovering from graft and corruption. Sen. Santiago’s Bill is great, but I doubt it will pass,” Prof. Teodoro Gonzales told TPP.
Source: GMA
