Political comedy! The Anti-Political Dynasty Bill is performative!

It is true that there is finally a bill that most citizens longed for, but does it benefit the state and the masses with the provisions of the approved act? 

The House Bill No. 8389, also known as the “Anti-Political Dynasty Bill,” was approved by the House on June 3, 2026. The bill was authored by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos. The approved bill enables political dynasties to continue due to its terms and conditions instead of the exact definition of the act.

The so-called “Anti-Political Dynasty Bill” had a good ring to everyone’s ears, but it is a massive joke because it only stops candidates from the same family from running at the same time for national and local positions. Family members such as spouses and relatives within the second degree can still run in different municipalities, provinces, and barangays as long as there are no other members inside the area that holds authority. Candidates from the same bloodline are also allowed to run as representatives in other legislative and party lists. 

Political dynasties such as the Marcoses and the Dutertes will benefit from the provisions, and it is currently the situation inside the legislative and executive branches of the government. Members of the lower cabinet contain three members from the family of Dutertes, including Davao 1st District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte, a brother of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. Marcoses also have their own members in the lower house, including Ilocos Sur 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, who is a son of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. It is not just about the mentioned families, but also the rest of the 76% house members who belonged to political dynasties all across the country.

Given that the bill is already a sham since it still allows the continuous holding of influence in other government levels, except for the Senate, where only one member is accepted. The Upper House of the 20th Senate is composed of 83% of its members who came from political dynasties. The chances are high that the bill would pass the Senate since senators who came from political dynasties, for instance, the Villars and Tulfos, who were currently occupying seats at the Senate. There is a chance that the upper house will approve the bill since only one family member is allowed to run for a Senate seat, but can still run for local positions because running for a national stature at the same time is not allowed according to the said bill. 

The House of Representatives contains 20% of its members who represent parties, organizations, and coalitions. Under the key provision of the approved act, “Allow spouses and relatives to run as representatives in other legislative districts and parties”. Candidates who came from a political dynasty can still have their own bloodline spread out through being a representative of a party-list because the three-seat cap exists under the “Party-list System Act,” also known as the Republic Act No. 7941. Parties that obtained more than 2% of their votes are entitled to have two more seats in the House, combined with the primary seat, that is three seats in total. The bill is pointless because it still encourages dynasties to thrive despite the fact that only one from the family can be a member of the Upper House.

A few will argue that at least an anti-political dynasty law was passed, and it could lessen political families from running inside at the same time and place, or even say that not all political dynasties are atrocious. The name of reform is there, but does it truly benefit the people? No, it does not at all if looking closer at it. Lawmakers, including Akbayan Partylist representative and house minority assistant, Atty. Chel Diokno disagreed and criticized the bill because it still allows candidates from a political dynasty to run for a position, but is just assigned in different provinces, municipalities, barangays, and different government levels. With the named terms, the bill legitimates a political dynasty and not the other way.

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative and former Senator Leila De Lima was also one of the lawmakers who opposed and pushed for a “genuine” Anti-Political Dynasty Bill. Rep. De Lima noted: “If the law being passed does the opposite, it is not reform but merely the legalization and further strengthening of political dynasties”. She also added, “This is a clear deception of the people”. Filipinos deserve more than just a comical law disguised as an act of progress. 

 Political parties were forged due to social divisions. The system of parties here in the Philippines is a total failure since only a minimal reform is added and it is a clash of socio-cultural influences within political dynasties. Aggression happens in every administration but when elections nears, it is time to cater the people again in order to maintain their power and positions.

Political dynasties will never be uprooted unless our constitution and systems of laws are stripped of the clauses that embolden them. Article 2, Section 26, of the 1987 Constitution states that, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law”. Quoted, but never practiced because the Constitution was bendable to their own whims. Similar laws died quietly from 1987, including the Senate Bill No. 2649 proposed by the late former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, and the other 8 Senate Bills.

To end, the approved anti-political dynasty bill is an absolute parody hiding behind the face of righteousness and legality. The people yearned for a law that is people-centered and puts the nation first, since that is the duty of being a lawmaker in the first place. Making laws that benefit the greater good and not worrying that power will eventually get stripped away when the term ends. If the intent is to serve, why is authority and influence hard to let go?

QUOTE:
The approved anti-political dynasty bill is an absolute parody hiding behind the face of righteousness and legality. Political dynasties will never be uprooted unless our constitution and systems of laws are stripped of the clauses that embolden them.