Dinastiya, tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!

Dinastiya, tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!

Youth members of the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a newly-accredited national political party, staged a mass action today at the Commission on Election (Comelec) national office in Intramuros, Manila to urge the poll body to declare candidates coming from political dynasties as nuisance.

With its rallying call “Dinastiya, Tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!” the group, comprised mostly of first-time voters, slammed the strengthening hold of political dynasties, which is solidly cemented with the candidacy of at least 14 scions of political clans in the 2013 senatorial election.

“These politicians coming from the dynasties are ridiculously circumventing the term limits of their incumbent relatives by running as their heir apparents,” said PLM chair Sonny Melencio. “This is what the constitutional provision banning political dynasties seek to address, but the trapos in Congress and Senate who come from this dynasties will not pass an enabling law for it will dismantle their clout.”

“Our challenge to Comelec is to use its moto propio powers and declare the candidates as nuisance for they just use their surnames as their main selling point, instead of specific platform,” he added.

In the rally, some youth members of PLM impersonated and mocked political dynasties, presenting the Trapo Family, a mock political dynasty wherein all members of said family are shown running at all available elected positions of government. The Trapo Family even showed its pet dog, Bogart, as running for town councilor.

“Ito ang nakakatawa ngunit nakalulungkot na hinaharap para sa aming mga kabataang first-time voters,” commented youth leader Chris Cabrera. “Pinaglalaruan na lang ng mga elitistang pamilyang ito ang kinabukasan namin sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasahan ng kapangyarihan sa kanilang magkakamag-anak lang.”

Virgin Rarang, another youth leader, urged the Comelec to give chance to new politicians who represent the interest of the youth and the masses, instead of selfish family and clan interests.

“Kailangan na talaga silang i-disqualify ng Comelec kasi ang tendensiya kapag magkakamag-anak lang ang nasa pwesto ay yung kanilang sariling kapakanan lamang bilang magkakapamilya ang iniintindi. Paano naman kaming mga mahihirap na nawawalan ng tsansa para pamunuan ang aming sarili,” she stressed.

Aside from the impersonation, hip-hop group BOS Thugz of Navotas performed their original compositions, which are written to criticize and slam the rule of traditional politicians in the country. ###

The roadmap for peace in Mindanao

The roadmap for peace in Mindanao

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a national political party of the marginalized sectors, welcomes the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement as a roadmap for peace in Mindanao.  The agreement is also the first step to end the centuries-old oppression of the Moro people in Mindanao.

Sonny Melencio, chairman of PLM, said, “The signing of the agreement is just the first step towards peace. But to ensure that the fighting in Mindanao will really come to an end, the government has to ensure that the agreement is implemented at every step, and that democracy, based on people’s participation, is enhanced in the Bangsamoro government that will replace the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

“We expect the agreement to attract resistance at every step, especially those coming from the Rightist forces in government, and from the trapos who continuously oppose the right to self-determination of the Moro people.”

Melencio identified the possible contention in the formation of the Transitory Commission which will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law.  Other contentious issues involve the expansion of the present geographical area of ARMM to include more municipalities, barangays and cities in Mindanao. There is also a contention on adding new territories through a resolution of local government unit or a petition by at least 10% of qualified voters in a respective area.

 “The main concern of PLM, however, is to ensure that the Bangsamoro agreement will also enhance the rights and representation of the poor and marginalized sections of the Moro people. In this regard, we are supporting the call for a ministerial form of Bangsamoro government that will have representation based on parties and not on personalities.

“This is to ensure that the ushering of peace in Mindanao, and the economic construction that will commence, will redound to the benefit of the many and not just a few clans and corporations, especially foreign ones,” Melencio added. #

15 October 2012.