MANILA, Philippines — Multisectoral groups urged the immediate passage of bills that would end political dynasties as the Senate and the House of Representatives hold dialogues nationwide on the measures.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines -Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE), and Caritas Philippines said that political dynasties have distorted the meaning of public service, transforming elective office into a hereditary privilege rather than a mission of responsibility.
"When power rotates across spouses, children, cousins, and in-laws, new leaders and innovative solutions are systematically blocked," they said.
They said the country has lived long enough under a democracy that repeatedly postpones its promise, and stressed the provision in the 1987 Constitution that mandates the prohibition of political dynasties.
"Yet nearly four decades later, silence and inaction have allowed these formations to grow unchecked, like vines entwining the beams of our institutions," they said.
They said that while the ongoing legislative measures have been filed to curb dynastic abuse, some of them fall short, which requires strengthening to fully close loopholes and ensure equitable political participation.
The group is pushing for a measure that would restrict close relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously holding or consecutively occupying elective positions, while preserving the principle of separate local and national representation as well as limiting a maximum of two relatives per family to hold an elective position: one may hold a local office and one a national position, without overlapping jurisdiction;
They are also calling for the elimination of avenues for circumvention, such as substitution, rotation, or position-swapping, ensuring political opportunities remain open to new leaders; the institution of a reasonable mandatory pause for term-limited officials and their close relatives before seeking the same office, creating space for fresh leadership while still allowing eligible individuals to pursue other offices; and the application of these restrictions to party-list representatives, closing loopholes that would otherwise allow political families to maintain undue influence.
"We call on civil society to remain vigilant, educational institutions to cultivate ethically and critically minded citizens, Congress to act with integrity and courage, and the Executive Branch to champion reform not as a political maneuver but as a moral imperative," they said.