By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, June 10 (PNA) – Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III on Wednesday clarified that the anti-dynasty bill is not meant for the Binay clan.
”I think it’s not mean for them because if it is meant for them, the bill should have been approved a long time ago,” Pimentel said in a media interview.
Pimentel said not only the local but the national positions should be covered by the anti-dynasty bill.
”I think it is better if we include national positions because the Senate might be criticized that we are passing an anti-political dynasty law which does affect or cover us,” Pimentel explained.
Pimentel said he had already a substitute bill that covered the national positions.
The bill, he said, already hurdled the committee level in the House of Representatives.
”Perhaps during the break, I will have to finalize the bill and gather signatures, at least six signatures of my 11- member committee. File it with the secretariat and then by resumption of session in late July and August, we can have plenary debates on the measure,” Pimentel said.
He said the bill had the best chance of passing during the present administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Pimentel will propose that only one member of each family will be allowed to hold elected office.
Aside from Vice President Jejomar Binay, other Binays holding public office are Binay’s daughters Senator Nancy Binay and congresswoman Abi Binay and son, Jejomar Erwin ‘Junjun’ Binay as incumbent Makati City mayor.
Pimentel sees the passage of the anti-dynasty bill before the filing of certificate of candidacy in October this year. (PNA)