Metro Manila, Philippines – A non-commissioned survey by Pulse Asia found that more than half, or 54 percent, of Filipino adults agree that the Congress should immediately pass a law that bans families from consistently holding political power over generations, often through wealth and influence.
The pollster conducted face-to-face interviews from Dec.12 to 15, and asked 1,200 respondents if they agree with the statement: “Dapat kaagad ipasa ng Kongreso ang batas na magbabawal sa political dynasties [Congress should immediately pass legislation to ban political dynasties].”
The results released on Monday, Dec. 29, showed that 69 percent of respondents in Metro Manila support its immediate passage, and 59 percent each in Luzon and the Visayas.
Public opinion was ambivalent in Mindanao with 34 percent in support, 27 percent in disagreement, and 38 percent are undecided.
In the same survey, Pulse Asia said 52 percent agree that Congress should pass a law creating “a fully empowered Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.”
“More than half of the adult population (52%) sees the urgency in having a law that would establish a fully empowered independent body to investigate corruption in infrastructure projects in the country,” the pollster said.
The sentiment came amid simultaneous probes on the controversial corruption kickback scheme among politicians involved in anomalous flood control projects.
The president created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which has so far recommended cases against ranking officials and some lawmakers but has been plagued as well by the resignation of two of three commissioners, and a special adviser.
Early in December, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. included the anti-political dynasty bill in the list of key legislative measures for Congress to prioritize.
A day later, his son and Ilocos 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos filed the anti-dynasty bill with House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III in the lower chamber.
The proposed “Anti-Political Dynasty Act,” or House Bill 6771, seeks to prevent “familial concentrations of political power” in public offices.
