THE long-pending anti-political dynasty bill, which seeks to prohibit close relatives from running for office or holding successive elective positions, is set to be discussed when the Senate resumes session on Monday, Jan. 26, lawmakers said.
Sen. JV Ejercito confirmed that several versions of the measure have been filed in the chamber, noting that four or five senators, including himself, have separately proposed legislation aimed at curbing political dynasties.
Ejercito said that Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation chairman and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has informed senators through their Viber group that a committee hearing on the bill will be scheduled once sessions reopen.
The proposed measure seeks to give life to Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which declares that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
Despite this constitutional provision, Congress has yet to pass an enabling law defining and regulating political dynasties, more than three decades after the Constitution was ratified.
Ejercito acknowledged that he comes from a well-known political family and admitted benefiting from a political dynasty, but stressed that the bill is intended to level the playing field in public service.
“Many Filipinos want to serve but do not have the machinery or financial resources that political families enjoy,” he said, adding that the proposed law could open opportunities for qualified but underrepresented candidates to run for public office.
Several versions of the anti-political dynasty bill have been filed in past Congresses, but all failed to advance into law, often stalling at the committee level.
Advocates argue that entrenched political families limit competition, weaken democratic representation, and perpetuate inequality in governance, while critics raise concerns about voters’ freedom of choice and the bill’s constitutionality if not carefully crafted.
Aside from Ejercito, senators who have filed their own anti-political dynasty bills include Lacson, Sens. Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Robinhood Padilla.
The Senate is committed to prioritizing the passage of bills that uphold the Constitution's mandate against political dynasties and to reforming the party-list system to combat corruption, as Lacson said.
Lacson pointed out that political dynasties have been linked to many anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects, with relatives succeeding each other in Congress.
"We're all on the spot here. Many anomalous projects have been linked to political dynasties. Netizens noted that political dynasties are a factor in questionable flood control projects because family members tend to succeed one another in Congress," he stated during a radio interview in English and Filipino.
"When we resume the session, we will ensure that these bills are passed on the third reading. It’s just a matter of reconciling the various versions of the measure," he added. When asked if passing the anti-dynasty bill would significantly contribute to stopping corruption, Lacson replied, "I believe it will play a big role in ending corruption."
Lacson said he filed an anti-dynasty bill as one of his priority measures. His version applies to relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity.
With renewed commitments from multiple senators and a scheduled committee hearing, proponents hope the current Congress will finally make headway on a measure long seen as a crucial but politically sensitive reform in Philippine politics.