Senate panel pushes anti-dynasty proposal closer to passage

Nearly four decades after the 1987 Constitution called for a ban on political dynasties, a Senate committee has moved a proposed enabling measure closer to passage after securing enough signatures to elevate it to the plenary.

Twelve senators signed the committee report on the proposed anti-political dynasty bill, exceeding the nine signatures required to forward the measure for floor deliberations.

The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation drafted the report, which seeks to prohibit political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity. 

Under the compromise version, certain relatives would be barred from concurrently holding public office or immediately succeeding one another.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the panel and sponsored Senate Bill 1901, said the agreed definition covers relatives within the second degree, including parents, siblings, spouses and children.

“There are some studies, or at least one study, which said that even if the first anti-dynasty bill only covers up to the second degree, it could already affect around 30 percent of political dynasties on the ground,” she said.

Hontiveros noted that her original proposal sought to extend the prohibition up to the fourth degree of consanguinity but that the panel settled on a narrower scope as part of a compromise.

“At least for the very first anti-political dynasty bill mandated by the Constitution way back in 1987, it is a first step,” the chairperson stated.

Based on the committee report, a political dynasty relationship would exist when spouses or two or more relatives serve concurrent or overlapping terms in national elective offices, or concurrent terms in local elective offices within the same legislative district, province, city, or municipality.

The definition also applies to relatives holding positions across party-list and national or local offices, as well as cases where a spouse or relative immediately succeeds an incumbent.

The measure separates national and local positions, with no prohibition between them. However, party-list representation would be barred if a dynasty member already holds a national or local post. Both simultaneous and successive holding of covered positions would be prohibited.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to pass the measure into law by the end of March,” Hontiveros stated.

She added the bill provides the Commission on Elections with mechanisms to enforce the prohibition and that implementation would begin in 2028 if enacted.

“This will be implemented starting in the next election. If they are able to do it, it will shake things up at the local level,” she said.

The signatories to the committee report includes Hontiveros, Erwin Tulfo, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV and Manuel “Lito” Lapid.