If President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wins as representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga in the May 2010 elections and four of her relatives also get elected to the House of Representatives, the Philippines may yet set a new world record on political dynasties. “There will be five Arroyos in the House. I am not sure that's happened elsewhere. It's all in the family,” said Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, who came out with a full-page newspaper advertisement Monday calling for new blood in politics. “I am not aware of any such similar situation abroad,” noted lawyer Carlos Medina, referring to the number of family members occupying one law-making body. “If it happens here, it will be an abomination,” noted Medina who is with poll watchdog group Legal Network for Truthful Elections. Rep. Joson and Medina both assailed the President's congressional plans amid recent not-so-flattering news about the Philippines. “Perhaps she wants to make it to the Ripley's Believe it or Not or the Guinness World Records as the first President to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the longest serving public servant rated as No. 1 in corruption, and No. 1 in rice importation,” Rep. Joson added. Last November 23, the Philippines landed in the record books for having the most number of journalists killed in an election-related incident when 30 died in the Maguindanao massacre. The carnage was allegedly committed by a close ally of President Arroyo--the Ampatuans of Maguindanao. Relatives occupying positions in various government posts are common even in democratic governments. Sets of father and son, mother and son, and brothers serving at the same time are common in legislatures such as in India and Botswana. Likewise, in the United States, relatives have served simultaneously in the House of Representatives. But to have four family members and possibly five – in one law-making body all at the same time is rare. There are four Arroyos in the current 14th Congress. They arpresidential son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo; presidential son Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo. the president's s brother-in-law Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo and Arroyo's sister-in-law Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo. PArroyo plans to take over the post of son Mikey. But Mikey will be joining a party-list group so he can possibly stay in the House of Representatives. Rep. Iggy Arroyo is on his second term and is still eligible for another three-year term. Reps. Dato and Lourdes are on their first terms in the lower House. Dato has filed his certificate of candidacy in the newly created district in Camarines Sur province. Arroyo signed the law creating the new Camarines Sur district. Arroyo is not the first to run for a lower post after serving as president. Jose P. Laurel, president from 1943 to 1945 during the Japanese Occupation, served as a senator after the war. ABS
