Showing posts with label Batangas Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Batangas Politics. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Mananalo si Kristine Balmes, Part 2

Sa unang bahagi sinabi ko na mananalo si Kristine Balmes bilang bagong City Mayor ng Batangas City dahil sa (1) dami ng nakakaalam na hindi na si Eddie Dimacuha ang nagpapasya para sa kanyang pamilya dahil kontrolado na ito ng manugang na si Marvey Mariño na mistulang hayuk na hayok sa kapangyarihan kaya seniguro na silang mag-asawa ni Beverly ang kokontrol sa siyudad; (2) may nagkukumpirma ng sikretong ito sa publiko sa katauhan ni Philip Baroja, 22 taong alalay ni EBD; (3) 4 sa limang kandidato sa pagka-congressman ay dala si Kristine, maliban kay Marvey na sarili ang dala; at (4) ang malakas na suporta ng Simbahang Katoliko kay Kristine na hindi pa nangyari sa lokal na halalan.

Sa aking pagpapatuloy, napag-alaman ko na ang totoo palang may akda ng pag-utang ng P 1 Bilyon sa Land Bank ay pakana rin ni Marvey Mariño, at sa kung anong bato-balani ay sunod-sunuran sa kanya si Reginald Dimacuha o RD na syang proxy mayor ng ama (tagapirma o tagapagpapirma sa ama). Maraming haka-haka kung bakit uutang ng ganyan kalaking halaga, gayong kung siningil lamang ang Keilco at JG Summit sa kanilang mga utang sa buwis ay higit pa riyan ang halagang makukolekta ng Lungsod.

Bakit kailangang umutang kung hindi naman kailangan? Maaaring binalak ng may-akda ng pag-utang na magkaroon ng limpak na cash upang gamitin sa halalang ito. Hindi na sana nagalaw ang kanilang naisantabing P .5 bilyon, na ngayon ay syang ipinanghahambalos kaliwa’t kanan para bilhin ang boto ng mga Batanggenyo.

Muling ginagamit ni Marvey Mariño ang “political capital and stock” ni EBD upang ipanalo ang sarili bilang congressman at si Beverly sa pagka-Mayor. Nauna ko nang isiniwalat batay sa isang mapagkakatiwalaang source na wala sa katinuan nung igiit ni Marvey na si Beverly ang humalili sa amang may malubhang sakit. Nakakapag-isip na kung bakit ang isang napakatalino at tusong si EBD, sampu ng kanyang pamilya ay naisahan ng isang dayo.

Isang “phenomenon” si EBD sa pulitika. Tumagal sya ng higit pa kay Marcos (20 taon) samantalang si EBD ay 28 taon. Nagawa nyang pakainin sa kanyang palad at gawing mga mamalimos (mendicants) ang maraming Batanggenyo; at sumampalataya ang mga elite (mga Pastor, etc) at middle class sa kanya. Nagawa nyang palakihin ang kabuhayan ng kanyang pamilya, mamimili ng maraming ari-arian at itago ito sa pangalan ng iba’t ibang kamag-anak, kasambahay, alalay, at mga karelasyon, ayon sa aking isa pang source. Sa kabila ng mga balitang maraming empleyada ng city hall ang hindi nya pinatawad, nanatili siyang tinitingala, iginagalang o kaya ay kinasisindakan ng napakarami. Sa kabila ng maraming isyu laban sa kanya, tila madali syang napapatawad ng mga tao. Sa katunayan, kung hindi sya napalitan ni Beverly, aani talaga ng boto mula sa “talagang Dimacuha ang palaging ibinoboto ng pamilya namin” na mga taong sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay sumasamba na sa kanya.

Ginamit ni EBD ang napakalaking resources ng syudad para ipamarali sa tao na sa kanya galing ang mga programa sa kalusugan (EBD Cards), ayuda sa pag-aaral (EBD scholarships), at mga serbisyong panlipunan gaya ng Barangay Action Team, mga pagawaing-bayan na ipinangalan nya sa sarili gaya ng mga EBD Type School Buildings, atbp. Isang systematic EBDism ang kanyang ibinaon sa kaisipan ng mga mamamayan dahil saang sulok ka man tumingin, puro EBD ang pangalan ng mga bagay na natatatanggap sa gobyerno, kasama na ang medalya ng pinakamatatalinong batang nagsisipagtapos sa pag-aaral. Si EBD para sa maraming kabataan ay tila isang permanenteng kagamitan (fixture) sa city hall. EBD has become synonymous to Batangas City that his name is imprinted even bigger than the name of the city.

He knew everything that was going on in his city, no exemption. He knew who among the businessmen were raking in money and knew how to make them bow to his wishes. He knew too well the weaknesses of his enemies that he could force them to bow down before him (remember Wawing Chavez and Flor de Loyola?)

Ailing Dimacuha
But that was before he became very sick. Ngayong may karamdaman na sya, isang oportunistang manugang naman ang nagsisikap na isuot ang sombrero ni EBD. Isang manugang na inaaakalang maloloko nya ang  mga Batanggenyo at tatanggapin na lamang ang kanyang mga mainobra at manipulasyon. Isang oportunista na kung makakapwesto ay siguradong babaguhin ang lungsod sa hindi maganda.

Sabi ng aking source, kung mananalo si Beverly, lalo na kung pati si Mariño, uunahin nilang i-overhaul ang city hall. Lahat ng department heads ay papalitan. Maraming empleyado ang isa-shuffle at maglalagay siya ng mga taong tOn the pretext of RD’s unpopularity, even him will be axed. He will run the affairs of the city, in full control, since the wife cannot say no to him.
apat at sunod-sunuran sa kanya.

Ang kaso, nangangarap sya ng gising dahil pareho silang matatalo. Mauubos ang kanilang pondo, pero hindi na nila maloloko ang tao.

As regards EBD, either you hate or love him. But he is finished. History will tell us whether his phenomenon is something we should be proud or ashamed of.



Monday, January 4, 2016

Meet the congressional candidates of Batangas City

This is a continuation of my thoughts on the congressional race for the newly created lone district of Batangas City. While I do not intend to be judgemental  in my discourse, I desire to share to my readers the importance of choosing the right candidate.

 Danber - The wrong grammar in his personal ad might be an indicator of his lack of depth. No public service experience but only a family name to bank on. I heard of some nasty issues about his subdivision business where titles are being held for a long period of time.

He believes in FOREVER as only dynasts would do.





Bisa - He is definitely a newbie in national politics, but since he is a national labor or union leader, expect him to align with the progressive bloc in Congress if he wins. But if he listens to good advice, and some image work-out, he can initiate a fresh change in the way Batangas is represented in Congress.



Marvey Marino - This Dimacuha son-in-law has an impressive educational background but a pathetic political performance as a councilor and provincial board member. Clearly, his only purpose in public office is to have power. In that way, he can protect the Dimacuhas who will surely face a myriad of criminal cases as soon as they are out of city hall.

The nerve to run as congressman, along with wife Beverly for Mayor is really a blatant insult to the Batanguenos. What else can we think of but that they want total control?


                                                                 



Philip Baroja - former City Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Dimacuhas hails from Lipa City where he had a failed run for councilor decades ago. He found a good start with the Dmacuhas and really served them with utmost loyalty, to a fault. Unfortunately, people are suspicious of his real intention in running. Is he a pawn of one of  the power players inside the dynastic family?


Nani Perez - the most educationally qualified and experienced among the candidates. But he has his own baggage as a former national official - issues that haunt him and his family, including corruption, extortion, abuse of power and a tainted image along with his former "close friend" Gloria Arroyo.

Age has also coped up with him, and his "trapo" image is something he must reckon with. Some comments I heard - it would indeed be best for him to just grow more orchids. 

Consider his statement of withdrawal of his candidacy last year, only to surprise us all before Christmas that he is running after all.


Sunday, December 13, 2015

Malakas pa sa bagyong Nona ang pagtakbo ni Beverly

Photo meme from Mikoy Abaya
May mga impormasyon ang aking mapagkakatiwalaang bubwit – mas malakas pa sa bagyong Nona ang paghahayag ng kandidatura ni Beverly Abaya Dimacuha (BAD) – Mariňo  dahil yayanigin nito ang pundasyon ng Berberabe-Dimacuha dynasty.

Lantarang sasagpi at maghahayag na ng suporta si Doc Jun Berberabe (Vice Mayor) sa tropang pulahan ni Kristine G. Balmes (KGB). Sabi ng aking source, mas may pag-asa raw na tumupad si KGB sa pangakuan nila ni Doc, keysa sa matagal na inasam at inasahan nya sa kampo ng mga Dimacuha, na sa dakong huli
ay kapamilya pa rin ang piniling ipalit sa may sakit na puno ng dinastiya na si Eduardo o EBD.

Ano kayang pangakuan ito?

Kung anuman, ang pinakamahalaga sa ngayon ay putulin na ang paghahari ng pamilya ni EBD na halos 28 taon na. Napag-iwanan na ang dating pangunahing Lungsod ng Batangas, at mabilis na nauungusan  ng mga Lungsod ng Lipa at Tanauan. Maaaring susunod na ring maging lungsod ang Sto. Tomas.

Sabi nga ni Gob. Dodo Mandanas, ang Batangas City ay may kakayahang maging “most powerful city” dahil nandito ang mga planta ng kuryenteng nagsu-supply sa malaking pangangailangan ng Luzon. Dagdag pa nya, nasa may 70% ng supply ng pagkain, lalo na ng gulay, karne at itlog ang kontribusyon ng Batangas sa Metro Manila.

Bukod pa dyan ang international seaport na sa halip magamit sa malusog na komersyo ay nagagamit sa mga illegal na gawain tulad ng smuggling.

Ang turismo din  ng Batangas City ay napabayaan na dahil sa halip na ang Lungsod ang ipamalita, pa-epal na larawan ng mag-asawang Vilma at Eduardo ang mga naka-highlight sa tourism campaign kaya maraming turista ang “turned-off.” Ginagawa rin nilang promotional family affair ang kapistahan at sublian sa halip  linangin ang kulturang Batangueňo ayon sa maraming observers.

Sa halip, ang mga pinagtutuunan ng pansin ay mga pagkakakwartahang kasunduan sa pagtatayo ng mga kumpanyang sisira sa kalikasan at tao tulad ng itinutulak na coal-fired power plant ng JG Summit. Nakikipagsabwatan din ang administrasyong Dimacuha sa mga kumpanya gaya ng JG Summit Petrochemical at Keilco Ilian Power Plant upang hindi magbayad ng pagkakautang sa buwis na umaabot na sa tig-P 385 million o P 770 million,  habang iginigiit ng dinastiya ang pag-utang ng P 1 bilyon mula sa Landbank para umano paunlarin ang lungsod, gayong ang pagkakautang pa lamang ng 2 kumpanyang nabanggit ay mahigit 70% na ng sinasabing kailangang pondo ng pamahalaang lokal kung sisingilin lamang, pero bakit ayaw? Ano nga kaya ang kaugnayan ng anak ni EBD na ngayo’y proxy mayor sa abogado ng isa sa mga kumpanyang ito?

Photo meme from Noli Atienza FB account
Sa kabila nito, santambak na pagtataas sa buwis at mga taripa  ang isinisiil nito sa mga karaniwang mambubuwis tulad ng ipinataw na Ordinance No. 20 o  pagtataas ng real property taxes na bagama’t sinabi na  ng Department of Justice na ilegal  ay ipinatutupad pa rin sa  kabila ng pagtutol ng mga mamamayan.

Samantala, bumabaha ng suhol sa mga barangay at mga guro.  Saku-sakong semento,  di mabilang na yero, mga papasko  at iba pa ang ngayon ay ipinanghahambalos  ng administrasyon, kasabay ng pagpapatanaw ng utang na loob sa mga kabataang nakatatanggap  ng tulong pinansyal sa pag-aaral (scholarship) at mga mamamayang nabibigyan ng health card na tinatawag nilang EBD card gayong pondo  ng city government ang gamit. Mga programang kahit sinong Mayor, at kung mas tapat at may malasakit ay maaaring higit pa ang benepisyong pwedeng ibigay.
Kaya bagyo talaga sa kasakiman at pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan na ngayon ay gagamitin ang bunsong anak na babae upang ipantapat sa malakas na kandidatura ni Kristine Balmes.

Sabi ng aking source, P500M ang budget nila para manalo ang mag-asawa. At kung sakali daw na kailangang mamili sa dalawa ay si Marvey ang ilalaglag nila. P100k per barangay captain na divided into 4 gives ang budget at utik-utik ibinibigay. Last Saturday, Dec 12, ay 2k ang bigay ni BAD M at 1k ang kay Marvey na papasko sa mga barangay kagawad. 2k naman ang sa mga secretary at treasurer ng barangay. Ang mga seniors ang pinaglalaanan nila ng pera ngayon kasi alam nila na sila ang kaya nilang i-sway pa. Ang mga public school teachers ay pinapasko din ng tig 3. Bumabaha  ng kwarta sa  lungsod!


Ang hindi lamang maintindihan ng marami,  bakit sa kabila ng kanyang lakas o drawing power, at sa dami rin ng palihim na nagbibigay suporta, bakit kailangang sumayaw  ng fandango ni Balmes sa mga Berberabe? Ganyan ba talaga ang pulitika , palaging “addition”  ang mahalaga?



Rejoinder:
May kagyat na reaksyon si Mayoral candidate Kristine Balmes:

“I haven't talked with him about any deals and why would I do such? How can I implement any plans and programs I have in a term of 3 years? That is impossible. Right now the city is facing so many problems and one of them is the lack of investors to increase the city's decreasing annual budget. If the loan pushes through together with the 750M that was supposed to be collected from JG Summit that turned out to be 95M, we have a shortage of 655M in our annual budget for 2016. These two alone is a problem that we need to address as soon as the next term begins. Add to that the funds for the 2 new councilors brought about by the creation of our own district.


Ang kumakalat kasing balita at nakarating din sa akin ay nangako si Balmes na isang term lang sya kung mananalo para bigyang daan si Doc Jun B na sya naman ang mag-mayor. Pero lumlitaw na isa itong propaganda. 

Kaya unsolicited advice ko   kay Vice Doc Jun - come out in the open and unconditionally  support Ang Bagong Batangas. You are political genius no  more!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Pagtakbo ni Beverly, insulto sa Batangueňo

Beverly Dimacuha-Mariňo
The Dimacuhas have gone too low.

Adding insult to injury, the dynastic family is fielding its only and youngest daughter, BEVERLY DIMACUHA-MARINO as substitute candidate to the ailing Dimacuha  patriarch, Eduardo.

Bagsak sa sariling commissioned surveys sina RD at Dondon at lalo na si Vilma, at may kung sinong  nagdunong-dunungang nagmungkahi na gawing eksperimento o political guinea pig si Beverly at gamitin upang ituloy ang dinastiya. Hindi man lang na-consider  ang  sispsip  ng sipsip  na si Vice Mayor Doc Jun Berberabe na sa totoo lang  ay umasa sa  wala (pamangkin sya ni EBD).

Pero malamang  hindi lamang ito insulto sa mga  taga-Batangas City kungdi maging kay Beverly dahil obviously  bukod sa hindi na makapag-isip dahil nasa state of political panic  na ang pamilya, isusubo  nila  ang kanilang  bunsong unica hija sa  isang labang siguradong  magpapagulo sa tahimik nyang  buhay. Siguradong  pag-uusapan ang pagiging  asawa nya ni Marvey  Mariňo na kandidatong congressman at lilitaw na sugapa na sila sa kapangyarihan dahil  mag-asawahan na ang  gustong komontrol sa syudad.

Pag-uusapan rin ang  mga negosyong si  Beverly ang namamahala, kasama na ang Shell gas stations na kung  magbenta ng gasolina at krudo  ay wagas – mas mataas ng  hanggang 5  piso  kada litro kumpara sa mga gas stations sa mga kapit-bayan.
BAD Mariňo

Malaking insulto na nga ang pagsasamantala nila sa pagkalikha ng isang bagong congressional district para sa Lungsod sa pagtakbo ng manugang na si Marvey Mariňo, heto at naghain sila sa atin ng isang WALANG KAKAYAHAN at WALANG KWALIPIKASYON maliban sa kanyang pagiging anak ng dinastiya.

Yan  ang sakit ng mga dinastiyang pulitikal – kapit tuko, manhid sa damdamin ng bayan, at gahaman sa kapangyarihan. Ang mga taga-Batangas City ay dapat nang mag-isip nang mas malalim.  Totoong makwarta  ang dinastiya at gamit pa ang bentahe ng kontrol nila sa kaban ng bayan, subalit ang lahat ng iyan ay mababale-wala kung TAYO  AY MANININDIGAN.

Huwag  tanggihan ang mga suhol dahil galing din yan sa kaban ng bayan,  subalit tahimik na manindigan. Kailangan na ang pagbabago. Binabastos na tayo, matagal na, MAGISING NA TAYO.  Sa dinami-dami ng mahuhusay na Batangueno bakit kailangang SILA AT SILA NA LAMANG?




Ang boto natin  sa pagbabago sa  susunod na taon ay HINDI LAMANG PARA SA SA SARILI NATIN kungdi PARA SA MGA ANAK NATIN.  Ipamana natin sa kanila ang isang pamahalaang kumakatawan sa tunay na mitihiin ng Batangueno. Maging bahagi tayo ng kasaysayan ng pagbabago. TAYO NA SA BAGONG BATANGAS!



Sunday, November 22, 2015

Yes to Progress Facebook Page - Isang Panloloko

BABALA PO SA ATING MGA KASAMA:

Mikoy Abaya FB post
Ang YES TO PROGRESS facebook page ay isang internet scam o cheat - layuning iligaw at guluhin ang mamamayan upang paboran ang dinastiyang Dimacuha at ipagtanggol ang mga YES KONSEHALES.

Ang admin nito na nagtatago sa pangalang Jose Enrique ay walang iba kung hindi si RD (Reginald  Dimacuha), dati nang nagtago sa pangalang Pete  Alonzo.

Paano nila kayo  nai-add? Simple lang -  kung may kaibigan kayo na kaibigan din nila, dahil sa paid hacker nila na si Tessy Maria o Maria Tess Colly (tessypatrick24@hotmail.com), awtomatiko kayong idadagdag sa page nila.

Kasama ni RD sa scam na ito ang isang Administrative Officer sa City hall na nagtatago sa pangalang Boogie Chacha, kasabwat ang may-akda ng Palakat Batangas.

Hinahamon ko kayo na pabulaanan  ito, at maglabas ng katibayan  na hindi ito totoo. Magkamali kayo - marami pa akong ilalabas na katarantaduhan ninyo!

NILOLOKO NINYO ANG BAYAN - Bakit hindi ang pagsagot sa mga isyu  ang gawin ninyo at hindi ang panlilinlang  sa mga tao?


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Millennials: what future awaits you under the Dimacuha political dynasty?

This post is dedicated to the millennial voters of Batangas City and other places in similar situation.

For 28 years, the Dimacuhas of Batangas City, headed by patriarch Eduardo, have been in power since 1988. After his first 3 terms as mayor (1988-1998) he was succeeded by son, Angelito "Dondon" Dimacuha (1998–2001), then again Eduardo B. Dimacuha, made a comeback in 2001–2010/ Then wife, Vilma A. Dimacuha succeeded him from 2010-2013, and again Eduardo B. Dimacuha came back since 2013, and now running again for 2016 elections.

Obviously, the Dimacuhas have felt a sense of over confidence and self-entitlement to rule the city, having won all elections since 1988. Emboldened by their staying power, the family has treated the affairs of the City Government as their own, similar to a family business. With the cooperation and conspiracy of the YES KONSEHALES (so-called because they will say yes to anything Dimacuha asks), the tyranny of the majority has ruled the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Treating Batangas City as a family corporation resulted to complacence and even disregard to people’s sensibilities. Impunity reigns where utter disregard to decency, legality and even respect for human rights and life were set aside, albeit systematically.

Dimacuha is very skillful at using his not so secret weapon – the tyranny of the majority (and he is the majority stockholder so to speak). With his YES Konsehales, he has had always his way of getting resolutions and ordinances favorable to him, including unbridled spending and borrowing, making Batangas City as a potentially bankrupt local government in 5 years.

He seems unstoppable - at taking advantage of his position of power and influence. But nature has her way of slowing down the ageing Dimacuha. Nahimatay na nga sa isang flag ceremony, bukod sa halatang halata na ang panghihina ng katawan kaya bihira nang humarap sa tao.

So shameless that even his son-in-law, Marvey Marino, is running for the lone congressional seat!

So the rage of the people starts to manifest in 2013, with the modern technology used as the jumping board, because it is safer for the opposition to be incognito in the face of a fierce dictator. Readers began to search for the truth, shared information using pseudonym and aliases, while the others who get the information pass the stories through whispers and sarcastic jokes.

In 2013, despite running under the opposition and thought to be shooting for the star with uncertainty, the former wife of Dondon Dimacuha, Kristine Balmes ran, and along with another opposition member, won by the hairline. The election results was marred by deception, cheating, manipulation and vote buying. But Dimacuha did not expect his former daughter-in-law to win.

It proved to be the turning point for the opposition,  when about two years ago, a new group formed a page in facebook, called Reject RPT 20 Movement was formed and slowly gathered steam where Kristine Balmes slowly became the rallying point. It was initially composed of ragtag opposition politicians and disillusioned businessmen and laymen.

Issues expanded from the original outcry against the imposition of unreasonable real property taxes, to environmental issues, and developing the informal group as a watchdog of the governance of the city. Members grew dramatically, as the Church has become involved in the issues the group espoused.

Realizing it was not enough to criticize or make public discourse over pressing issues, the group decided to turn itself into a loose and informal political group and launched the candidacy of Kristine Balmes for Mayor, Carlito Bisa for congressman, and others. Matter of fact, it has a complete slate of candidates for Councilors.

People looked at 2013 elections as the best way to repudiate the Dimacuhas. Unfortunately, he managed to buy most voters and manipulate even the results. Joe Tolentino had no money to contest the manipulations. And so the unfortunate extension of the dynasty until now.

This 2016, all the odds are against the visibly ailing Dimacuha who can no longer afford to bear the rigors of the campaign. Second, while he has the largess of a campaign kitty and an arsenal to mobilize a private army, they may not be enough to match the discontent, hate and contempt of the people of Batangas City. Neither his traditional parochial distribution of money and goods, charged to the city fund, can placate the anger of so many Batanguenos he has skillfully  manipulated all these years.

65% of voters are young people, aged 18-34. Majority of them are the so-called millennials or born between the years 1980 - 2000. These are the young ones who have access to the information age, and while seemingly carefree, they know what is going on. These are the same generation who will look forward and ask themselves WHAT WILL BE THEIR FUTURE IF OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE HANDS OF THE FEW?

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Political Dynasty & Kleptocracy (edited and repost from 2013)

According to Wikipedia:

Politics in the Philippines has been under the control of a few notable families. It is normal for a politician's son, wife, brother, or other kinsman, to run for the same or other government office. The term coined by Filipinos to describe this practice is "Political dynasty", the equivalent of an oligarchy in political science.

Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía); from ὀλίγος (olígos), meaning "few", and ἄρχω (arkho), meaning "to rule or to command")[1][2][3] is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control. Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who pass their influence from one generation to the next.In his 2011 book Oligarchy, Jeffrey A. Winters defines oligarchy as "the politics of wealth defense by materially endowed actors." In Winters' definition, massive wealth is the key factor in identifying oligarchs.

Throughout history, oligarchies have been tyrannical (relying on public obedience and/or oppression to exist) or relatively benign.

Do you see where Batangas City is today?

One blogger in facebook commented that he was born, raised and had his initiation in life with the Dimacuhas as the only name ruling city hall. This is sad, because for more than  a quarter of a century (28  years!), we have allowed Eduardo Dimacuha and members of his family to rule over us.

This is also a shame, because Batangas City is supposed to be a premier city, progressive and leading the rest of Calabarzon. Our city is supposed to be a cradle of noble heroes, proud of its ancestry and history. But recent history has put us to become a laughing stock of the region. Simply because we allow to be ruled by fear and indifference.

In the same breadth,  Bauan  has been ruled  for  almost 20   years by the family  of   Hermie  Dolor. And  sadly,   they rule  by fear, that Bauan is like under martial law. Imagine this former army sergeant being able to subdue a town for 18 years!

Eh ano naman ang kleptocracy? Ito ay sinasabing isang pamahalaan ng mga taong pangunahing layon ay mataas na kalagayan sa lipunan at pansariling kasiyahan o ganansya sa pamamagitan ng pagsasamantala sa nasasakupan (government by those who seek chiefly status and personal gain at the expense of the governed – www.merriam-webster.com.

Sa kanyang opinyon, sinabi naman ni Kalayaan College President at dati ring UP President Jose V. Abueva na “in our country ruled by an oligarchy, the political dynasties in most of our provinces enjoy a monopoly of electoral power, to the disadvantage of rival leaders and the general public. “An anarchy of families,” says American political scientist Alfred McCoy.

Political dynasts are seen to use their superior wealth, following and access to public resources to favor themselves and undermine the state. They attract their followers and keep them loyal with government patronage and personal protection. Having captured the state, some resort to massive corruption, fraud, violence, vote-buying, and intimidation (http://opinion.inquirer.net/51905/an-oligarchy-in-charge#ixzz2SelX9JSf).

ANC  24/7 Photo
Samakatwid, sari-sariling pamilya ng mga kleptocratic dynasts o magnanakaw na dinastiyang pulitikal ay lumilikha ng  kaguluhan (anarchy – o kawalan ng matinong takbo o layunin) dahil sa kanilang tila solong kapangyarihan sa mga botanteng mamamayan. Ginagamit nila ang kanilang nakahihigit na yaman, mga tagasunod (tuta?) at kapangyarihang gamitin ang kaban ng bayan sa pansariling kapakanan at paikutin ang estado o gobyerno (o dayain ang sistema ng batas ng gobyerno). Marami silang tagasunod at sila ay nanatiling tapat sa kanila (dynasts) dahil sa mga natatanggap na pabor at maging personal nilang proteksyon (kaligtasang pansarili, o kaligtasan laban sa kumpetensya kung sa negosyo).

Kung iniisip natin na magaling sa atin ang pamumuno ng iisang pamilya, at maraming nakikinabang, tandaan natin na mas nakabuti ito sa kanilang pamilya, angkan at negosyo. At ang karamput na tulong na ibinabalato sa ating mamamayan ay wala sa kalingkingan ng kanilang pinapakinabang.

Tayong mga karaniwang tao lamang ang maaring lumaban dahil nakipagsabwatan na sa dinastiyang ito ang mga pangunahing pamilya, angkan, dambuhalang negosyo at maging mga lider relihiyoso tulad ng Iglesia ni Cristo.. Wala tayong maaasahan sa kanila. This dynasty has co-opted the rich and the powerful because they gain from each other. So don't be fooled.

Tama na, kaumay  na, abuso na, sipain na!