Metro Manila, Philippines – The latest version of the anti-political dynasty bill in the Senate prohibits immediate family members from simultaneously holding certain elective posts or succeeding one another in such positions.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation, sponsored the panel’s report during the plenary session on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
The Senate has seven bills seeking to ban political dynasties. The committee report consolidated these following a series of public consultations.
The bill now defines a political dynasty as the concentration of public office and political power among relatives within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half-blood. This includes one’s spouse, parents, children, and siblings.
The bill prohibits the following:
- simultaneous or overlapping terms in national elective offices
- simultaneous terms in local elective offices within the same legislative district, province, city, or municipality
- simultaneous terms within and across party-lists
- simultaneous or overlapping terms under the party-list system and any national or local elective post
- immediate succession to any elective office
If two or more relatives’ candidacies could potentially create a political dynasty, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will issue a notice asking them to choose which among them will continue their candidacy. If no decision is made within 72 hours, the poll body will draw lots to determine who may proceed, and all other certificates of candidacy will be withdrawn.
The Comelec shall also cancel the candidacies of those who conceal information or submit false documents to hide a political dynasty relationship.
Once passed, the law will take effect in the next elections, though incumbent members of a political dynasty may finish their terms.
First step
Hontiveros acknowledged that many public consultation participants preferred a ban extending to the fourth degree, including first cousins, which was also her original proposal.
“Syempre 39 years na itong ina-anticipate. So ito po yung best na nabuo naming consensus [Of course, this has been anticipated for 39 years. So this is the best consensus we were able to reach],” Hontiveros said.
“It is a first step,” she added.
“And walang nagpipigil sa mga susunod na Kongreso, mag-file na mga dagdag na bills, batay sa unang karanasan natin para i-amend o palakasin ang batas,” she also said.
[Translation: And nothing prevents future Congresses from filing additional bills based on our initial experience to amend or strengthen the law.]
She noted that studies indicate the second-degree ban would affect roughly 30% of current political dynasties.
12 senators sign
As of noon of Tuesday, Feb. 24, 12 committee members had signed the report, surpassing the nine required to sponsor it in the plenary.
Aside from Hontiveros, signatories include fellow bill authors Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Robin Padilla, Kiko Pangilinan, and Erwin Tulfo, as well as Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Imee Marcos, Migz Zubiri, and Lito Lapid.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said a number of senators were listed as interpellators, indicating that thorough discussions on the Senate floor are expected following Tuesday’s sponsorship.
