Public hearing in UP Cebu renews 1987 Charter’s call to end political dynasties

Ralph Ian Espelita

At the University of the Philippines Cebu, lawmakers, students, and civil society leaders gathered on Thursday, February 19, for a consultation many described as long overdue: a public hearing on proposed Anti-Political Dynasty measures anchored on the mandate of the 1987 Constitution.

Convened by the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms of the House of Representatives, the hearing marked a significant moment in the decades-long effort to define and finally prohibit political dynasties in Philippine governance.

“This is not merely a policy discussion. It is a constitutional command,” the authors emphasized, referring to Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which directs the State to prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

A Constitutional Mandate, Deferred

Among those who attended the hearing were Rep. Ziaur-Rahman “Zia” Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Norte’s 1st District; Rep. Emigdio III P. Tanjuatco of Rizal’s 2nd District; Rep. John Geesnell “Baba” Yap of Bohol’s 2nd District; Rep. Jonathan Keith T. Flores of Bukidnon’s 2nd District; Rep. Alfredo Jr. A. Garbin of AKO BICOL Party-list; Rep. Edgar R. Erice of Caloocan City’s 2nd District; Rep. Yevgeny Vicente B. Emano of Misamis Oriental’s 2nd District; Rep. Leila M. de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal Party-list; Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago of Gabriela Women’s Party-list; Rep. Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” B. del Mar of Cebu City’s 1st District; Rep. Karen “Hope” F. Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd District; and Rep. Renee Louise M. Co of Kabataan Party-list, including the presence of Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña, former Vice-Mayor of Cebu City.

Co, who co-authored one of the pending measures, recalled that the first anti-dynasty bill was filed as early as 2001 by Bayan Muna Party-list, yet no enabling law has been enacted in 39 years since the Constitution’s ratification.

“It is visible that the prohibition must cover both simultaneous and successive political dynasties,” a representative of the youth sector said. “We must have equal access to public service. This is for the teenagers who want to engage in governance so that leadership is not reserved for a few surnames.”

Personal Reckonings and Public Responsibility

Del Mar reflected candidly on her own family’s political background, noting that her father and brother have also served in public office.

“Before passing a law, it is always good to consult our constituents,” she said, stressing that the bill’s implications must be carefully weighed across regions from Cavite in Luzon to Cebu in the Visayas.

For De Lima, the issue goes beyond family names.

“It is our duty as citizens to hold accountable and hold responsible the root causes that exacerbate corruption and injustice,” she said. “The dominance of political dynasties erodes democratic institutions, especially when multiple members of the same family occupy positions simultaneously.”

De Lima expressed support for expanding coverage up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, consistent with what proponents argue was the framers’ intent in 1987. One proposal, House Bill 2131, seeks to prohibit excessive succession and overlapping positions within a single family, effectively allowing only one family member to hold public office at a time within a given jurisdiction.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod of Cebu City, through Resolution No. 17-1892-2025, has already expressed support for the passage of such a measure.

“Ang kapangyarihan ay nagmumula sa taong bayan,” De Lima declared. “Ang gobyerno ay para sa mamamayang Pilipino, hindi para lamang sa iilang pamilya.”

A “Life-Long Battle”

Erice described the measure as part of a “lifelong battle” against entrenched political families.

“As if governance is an inheritance,” he remarked, recalling his teenage years when he first became aware of how power could be passed down like private property. He also alluded to the violent consequences of political greed in Philippine history, including the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983.

Garbin noted that 24 related bills are currently consolidated under the committee, underscoring the complexity of crafting a unified definition and enforcement mechanism.

Elago, for its part, framed the bill as “a fight against systematic corruption,” calling for broad consultation to ensure the law is both enforceable and just.

Voices from the People

The hearing opened the floor to public manifestation, drawing strong participation from the academic community.

The Vice-Chairperson of the UP Cebu University Student Council raised concerns about classroom shortages and funding gaps in the education sector.

“Education is a right, not a privilege,” the student leader said, criticizing the diversion of funds to pork-barrel allocations and corruption. “Ang edukasyon ay nagiging negosyo.”

While the 2026 national budget reportedly grants the education sector the largest allocation, speakers argued that it still falls short of international benchmarks, such as the recommended 20 percent of annual expenditure cited by global institutions.

All UP Union chapters, according to representatives present, expressed support for the anti-dynasty bill, asserting that political monopolies hinder equitable resource distribution.

Central Questions Before 2028 Elections

As the 2028 National and Local Elections approaches, participants posed fundamental questions:

How can governance remain both stable and accountable?

How can political parties be strengthened to promote merit-based candidate selection beyond family networks?

How can campaign reforms ensure that candidates without vast family wealth still have a fighting chance?

One manifestation proposed stricter term-related limitations, suggesting that after three consecutive terms, immediate relatives with the same surname should be barred from seeking the same position to prevent circumvention of term limits. Others emphasized the need for clear penal provisions to give the law real teeth.

A Historic Consultation

Though no vote was taken, the consultation at UP Cebu was widely regarded as historically significant—a rare moment when lawmakers confronted, in a university setting, a constitutional promise that has remained unfulfilled for nearly four decades.

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” De Guzman Dy of the House of Representatives opened the session by acknowledging that legislation of this magnitude requires not only legal precision but also moral courage.

By the hearing’s close, a recurring theme emerged: the call to return political power to the people.

“Leaders from different sectors will always unite,” one participant declared, “when the issue is democracy itself.”

Whether the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill will finally become law remains uncertain. But for one afternoon in Cebu City, the debate was no longer confined to Congress halls—it was brought directly to the youth, the academe, and the public, where the Constitution says sovereignty truly resides.