Angara: Nothing wrong with political dynasty

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara admitted on Wednesday that his family is a political dynasty, but that is not actually a bad thing. "I think we are a dynasty but we have a legacy," he said. He said that people can check progress in Aurora province and judge for themselves. He's now seeking a Senate seat and formally filed his Certificate of Candidacy. "Hindi na namin ikahihiya ang ginawa namin (for Aurora)," he said, referring to his three terms as a member of the House of Representatives. He added the Angaras who ran for political office in Aurora were qualified and did not rely on goodwill created by their incumbent relative. Angara, son of Senator Edgardo Angara and nephew of Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, has a degree from the London School of Economics and studied law at the UP College of Law. He has a master of laws degree from Harvard Law School. He said voters should look at the track records of candidates and not give those from political families "a free ride." Congress must own up to Cybercrime law Angara meanwhile said Congress must own up to the passage of the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act, provisions of which have been criticized for violating basic rights. "I don't think it can be denied anymore that a law has been passed," he said. Lawmakers have been criticized for allowing provisions, including one imposing a stiffer penalty for online libel, in the bill. Angara said the online libel provision was not in the version that the House deliberated on. Senator Angara was the author and sponsor of the Senate version of the law, which is the subject of eight petitions opposing it at the Supreme Court. Rep. Angara said he is open to amending the law, but only with respect to removing the criminal penalty on online libel. He added online libel already existed as a crime even before the passage of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. He defended, however, a provision giving the government authority to take down websites if the Department of Justice finds probable cause that the Cybercrime Law has been violated. He said the law was meant to punish child pornography and similar crimes. Angara said he trusts the Justice department to use the authority "judiciously" as Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has previously promised.