Metro Manila, Philippines – A majority of Filipinos favor an anti-political dynasty law, according to a non-commissioned Pulse Asia survey released as Congress deliberates on such proposals.
The survey, conducted from Feb. 27 to March 2 among 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, showed that 64 percent agree with the passage of a law “that limits or prohibits political dynasties.” Of this number, 28 percent strongly agreed, while 36 percent somewhat agreed.
Only 17 percent disagreed, while 19 percent were uncertain.
“Support for legislative proposals to ban political dynasties in the Philippine political arena is the predominant sentiment among Filipino adults,” the private pollster said in a news release on Friday, March 13.
Support was highest among residents of Luzon (74 percent), followed by the Visayas (73 percent) and Metro Manila (69 percent). In Mindanao, however, only 32 percent expressed support for an anti-dynasty bill, while 39 percent disagreed, and 29 percent were uncertain.
Across income classes, 70 percent of Class ABC respondents and 60 percent of Class D respondents supported the measure.
Among the poorest Class E, however, more respondents (41percent) disagreed with anti-dynasty efforts. Only 36 percent agreed, while 24 percent were uncertain.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are debating their respective versions of the anti-political dynasty bill following public consultations across the country. They have until next week to pass it in session before Congress goes on break from March 21 to May 3.
Prohibitions
Both versions that passed at the committee level in the two chambers propose defining a political dynasty as involving relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity. This includes one’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, and children-in-law.
However, critics consider the House proposal weak, as it would still allow multiple family members to hold various elective posts — one each in national, legislative district, provincial, municipal or city, and barangay positions — and does not address political succession.
The latest Senate version being debated on the floor allows only one family member each in national and local elective offices and explicitly prohibits succession.
Among supporters of anti-dynasty measures in the Pulse Asia survey, majorities agreed with the following statements:
- Ban relatives holding elective positions in national and local governments simultaneously – 70 percent
- Ban relatives holding elective positions in local government at the same time – 67 percent
- Ban relatives holding elective positions in national government at the same time – 72 percent
- Limit the number of family members running in an election to two, one for a national position and another for a local position – 70 percent
A majority or 69 percent want to stop relatives from immediately succeeding each other in both local and national elective posts.
