Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 3, approved on final reading the controversial version of the anti-political dynasty bill – the first of its kind to clear plenary under the 1987 constitutional provision.
A total of 267 lawmakers voted for the bill, 20 were against, while seven abstained.
Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos – both from well-known political clans – are authors of the measure, while 159 others co-authored the bill.
“This measure recognizes a reality in Philippine politics while also responding to a constitutional mandate that has remained pending for decades. The objective is to promote broader political participation and strengthen public trust in our democratic institutions,” Marcos said.
The bill aims to prohibit spouses or relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to hold positions simultaneously.
In a statement, House committee on suffrage electoral reforms chairperson Zia Adiong said in passing the landmark legislation, there has to be a “careful balance” to ensure that “we do not unduly impair the sovereign right of the people to choose their leaders, nor the right of qualified citizens to offer themselves for public service.”
“This measure is not about restricting democracy; it is about strengthening and purifying it by opening wider opportunities for genuine public service and breaking the cycle of entrenched power,” he said.
Adiong also called on the Senate to approve the counterpart measure.
Reservations
On the other hand, critics called the version toothless, fearing it may even enable dynasties.
The concerns mainly stemmed from avoiding prohibitions on the overlapping of positions at geographical areas. The bill defined prohibitions per government level: national, legislative, provincial, and municipal.
It bans relatives from holding office in the same level of government at the same time. However, political families can still hold positions simultaneously if those positions are in different levels of government.
For example, at the national level, the president couldn’t have relatives of up to second degree as vice president and senators.
While at the provincial level, a governor couldn’t have family members as vice governor and board members – but they can be elected in the municipal level of the same province.
“Thirty-eight years of waiting only to be given a piece of legislation that is more concerned with perpetuating political dynasties,” Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, who voted no, said.
Constitutional framer Adolfo Azcuna previously told NewsWatch Plus that the version does not fulfil the charter’s mandate of banning dynasties.
The measure would mandate candidates to submit a sworn statement and an undertaking with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declaring that they have no relatives seeking the same office, as defined in the measure.
It also authorizes Comelec to suspend the proclamation of candidates in cases where an election would result in a political dynasty relationship.
