BUSINESS groups and other organizations on Thursday warned of a possible people’s initiative to pass legislation should Congress again fail to pass an anti-dynasty law.
The absence of an effective Anti-Dynasty Law has allowed political power to be concentrated in a handful of influential families, fostering corruption, perpetuating inequality and poverty, and marginalizing ordinary citizens,” they said.
“Yet, more than three decades since the 1987 Constitution was adopted, Congress has yet to enact a genuine Anti-Political Dynasty Law.”
While the House Bill (HB) 6771 has been filed, the business groups claimed that it fell short as it allows “succession, switching, substitution and rotation among relatives, enabling family members to occupy elective positions across levels of government and across election cycles, effectively preserving monopoly over political power.”
“In reality, HB 6771 is a pro-dynasty measure,” they said.
HB 677I was co-authored by House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The business groups said that an effective anti-political dynasty law must include clear and enforceable provisions that:
– Prohibit relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running or simultaneously or consecutively holding elective office.
– Explicitly prohibit substitution, rotation and position-switching to circumvent term limits.
– Establish a mandatory cooling-off period equal to one full electoral cycle for both term-limited officials and their relatives.
They called on the public to exercise their right to enact legislation through a people’s initiative if such a law is not passed by legislators.
The process can be conducted digitally, using QR codes, biometrics and specimen signatures to verify voter identity, as provided for in the Philippine Identification System Act, the business groups said.
“Ultimately, the battle against political dynasties is a battle against corruption itself. For our nation to finally break free from the bondage of corruption, political dynasties should no longer thrive. Merit, not lineage, must determine who serves the Filipino people.”
Signatories to the statement were:
– The Justice Reform Initiative
– Advocates for National Interest
– Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan
– Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice
– Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino
– Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
– De La Salle Brothers Inc.
– De La Salle Philippines
– Energy Lawyers Association of the Philippines
– FEU Public Policy Center
– Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines
– Iloilo Economic Development Foundation
– Institute for Solidarity in Asia
– Institute of Corporate Directors
– Institute of Philippine Real Estate Appraisers
– Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Inc.
– Kontra Dinastiya
– Makati Business Club
– Management Association of the Philippines
– Military Uniformed Personnel
– Movement for Restoration of Peace & Order
– Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting
– Partido Lakas ng Masa
– Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
– Philippine Institute of Arbitrators
– Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants
– Sanlakas
– Seniors on the Move
– Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines
– UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation Inc.
– The Women for Action Toward Reform.
