Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants an anti-political dynasty law enacted within his term, Malacañang said Thursday, Sept. 17, as it backed a landmark Supreme Court ruling directing Congress to finally carry out the constitutional mandate after nearly four decades.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the measure remains one of the president’s priority bills and that Marcos wants lawmakers to expedite its passage.
“Alam na po natin na ito po ang isa sa mga priority bills ng pangulo. Talagang ito po ay pinapamadali niya at gusto po niya hangga’t maaari sa panahon po niya ay maipasa ang anti-political dynasty law,” Castro said.
[Translation: We already know that this is one of the president’s priority bills. He wants its passage expedited and, as much as possible, wants the anti-political dynasty law enacted during his term.]
Castro said Marcos agrees with the Supreme Court that legislation is needed to implement the constitutional prohibition against political dynasties.
The Supreme Court announced Wednesday that Congress has a mandatory constitutional duty to enact an anti-political dynasty law, ruling that 39 years of failure to do so amounted to grave abuse of discretion. The decision was reached during the court’s Aug. 26 session.
Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution states that the government shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and “prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
The court held that the provision is a constitutional command and that Congress cannot indefinitely postpone legislation simply because the Constitution left lawmakers to define what constitutes a political dynasty and determine the scope of the prohibition.
The Palace stopped short of criticizing Congress over the pace of legislation.
“Ang timeline po ng Kongreso ay nasa kanila po itong kamay. Ang nais lang ipaalam ng pangulo ay gusto po niya itong maipasa,” Castro said.
[Translation: The congressional timeline is in their hands. What the president wants to make clear is that he wants this measure passed.]
Castro also defended lawmakers from criticism over the pace of deliberations, saying Congress has other legislative responsibilities.
Marcos formally included the anti-political dynasty proposal among his administration’s (LEDAC) priority legislative measures during a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (meeting in February.
At the time, the Palace said Marcos wanted the measure enacted as soon as possible and supported nationwide public consultations on the proposed restrictions.
The measure remained part of the administration’s 24 priority bills identified during the fourth LEDAC meeting in August, with the priority legislative agenda targeted for passage by the end of June 2027.
The House of Representatives has already approved House Bill 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, on third and final reading on June 3 by a vote of 267-20, with seven abstentions. It was transmitted to the Senate on June 8.
Under the House-approved measure, spouses and relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity would be covered by restrictions against simultaneously or successively holding certain elective positions.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1901 remains pending on second reading. The measure would cover political dynasties in national and local elective offices as well as the party-list system.
