Antonio G. M. La Viña, a constitutional law professor at the University of the Philippines, thinks that the Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 made a mistake in giving Congress the power to decide on the prohibition of political dynasties instead of imposing limitations right then and there.
“Congress cannot be trusted to change the Constitution," he said. “We have all of these husbands and wives and daughters and sons in multiple positions. It’s scandalous.”
In this B-Side episode, Mr. La Viña talks to BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol about family dynasties, federalism, and structural change.
This is third and final episode in an Explainer series that previously featured Bernardo M. Villegas, an economist and one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, and Norberto B. Gonzales, a former National Defense Secretary and National Security Adviser who ran for president in the 2022 elections.
This episode was recorded in September 2022 at the Manila Observatory in Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Produced by Joseph Emmanuel L. Garcia and Sam L. Marcelo.
