Filipinos reject dynasties, says Aquino

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 6

Filipinos reject dynasties, says Aquino

NZPA-Reuter Manila President Corazon Aquino says the defeat of her relatives in recent local elections was a sign that Filipinos had learnt to spurn political dynasties.

On the eve of special elections in five provinces, Mrs Aquino for the first time directly called on voters to reject candidates supported by communist rebels.

Asked in her taped weekly radio talk show what she thought of political dynasties following the defeat of her relatives in the January 18 election, Mrs Aquino said, “It seemed that people wanted to put across a message.” “As I had said, we just wait for the people to decide, and they have decided,” said Mrs Aquino, who had discouraged her kin from contesting the local elections. She did not campaign for them. Her sister-in-law, Milagros Aquino-Albert, lost badly in the mayoral race in Manila’s Quezon City district while her cousin Victor Sumulong failed in his bid for governor of Rizal province. A niece and nephew of Mrs Aquino ran for mayor and vice-mayor of Antipolo town and lost. Politically powerful families have long dominated Philippine politics.

The President’s family and that of her late husband, Benigno, were among them. The Senate has passed an anti-dynasty bill that prohibits relatives of' officials — either by blood or marriage—- — running for elective Government posts. The bill is now being debated by the House of Representatives.

Mrs Aquino asked the more than one million Filipinos expected to vote in the special elections not to support communistbacked candidates.

“I am appealing to a 11... We should not vote for anybody who will not be a free agent... who would not listen to the people but would be taking orders from some other forces,” she said in reference to communist rebels.

Elections in five provinces, originally scheduled to coincide with the. January 18 polls in 62 provinces, were postponed because of fears of political violence. More than 100 people were killed in the campaign.

Mrs Aquino, whose grassroots support is believed to have been boosted by the victory of most of the Administration candidates in the local polls, said threats to her Government continued.