Marilyn Cahatol

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Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms on Tuesday began tackling proposed measures prohibiting political dynasties.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Wag tayong magpakulong sa mga nakapirming paninindigan. Layunin ng pagdinig na ito ay malinaw, magtimbang, at magpalalim ng pag-unawa upang magabayan nang wasto ang mga mambabatas sa kanilang magiging pasya,&quot; saud House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, who authored one of the bills.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:313px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2015977184155050306&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring&amp;sessionId=e68c72c67a306d4506f456eb3cb498d57a79594d&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2015977184155050306"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who also filed an anti-dynasty bill, said she was open to adjusting her proposal to ban up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, from its initially proposed second degree.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supports any measure that “will finally institutionalize the anti-political dynasty provision of the constitution,” said its chairperson George Garcia. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/23/anti-dynasty-law-now-poll-shows-filipinos-want-real-political-reform-1340">Anti-Dynasty Law now? Poll shows Filipinos want real political reform</a></div><p>But Garcia said he hoped the Comelec would not be left to interpret what Congress desired, given the differences among 21 bills on prohibiting political dynasties. </p><p>He added that the substitution of candidates was another matter that should be addressed. </p><p>“Do we allow substitution of someone we believe to be a dynast?” he asked.</p><p>“Please kindly consider the other provisions of the law simply because if we will not properly amend other provisions of the election code and other election laws, hindi rin po natin maipapatupad nang tama ang napakaganda na panukalang batas na ito,” Garcia added.</p><p>When asked about a potential conflict between the right to be elected and prohibiting people related to incumbent officials or other candidates from running, Garcia said the anti-political dynasty provision was superior to the right of suffrage in the hierarchy of articles.</p><p>“The anti-political dynasty provision, although not defined by the framers of the constitution, was included under Article 2 of the Declaration of Principles and State Policy,&quot; Garcia said.</p><p>The right of suffrage is under Article 5. In the hierarchy of articles, therefore, the declaration of policy is superior than any other provision after the Article 2,&quot; he added. </p><p>Meanwhile, House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chairperson Zia Alonto Adiong said he believes a bill prohibiting political dynasties could be passed within the year, mentioning the support of House leadership and members of the majority.</p><p>“With that support na nakita natin– the speaker was there noong nag-open po tayo ng hearing– that is already an indication that this bill, this measure is being supported by the leadership. And that goes also, that comes with the support of those who are members of the majority,” Adiong told reporters after the committee meeting.</p><p>When asked about passage of an anti-political dynasty bill within 2026, Adiong replied, “Kaya naman… There&#x27;s a possibility na makakaya natin.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PASSAGE BEFORE COC FILING</strong></div><p>Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said they are “fully supportive” of a measure that would “finally institutionalize the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution.”</p><p>However, Garcia hopes the law would be passed before filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2028 elections.</p><p>“Hindi naman sa minamadali namin ang Kongreso kung sadyang kailangan po maipasa ay sana po bago mag-file ay 2027… nandiyan na ‘yung anti-political dynasty law,” Garcia told the media.</p><p>“Naniniwala po ako hindi na po ito magtatagal sapagkat nakita niyo po ‘yung concerted effort magmula sa pangulo, sa Senado, sa Kongreso,” Garcia added.</p><p>Only the definition and not the prohibition, itself, is left to Congress, according to University of the Philippines College of Law Senior Legal Associate Atty. Lee Edson Yarcia.</p><p>“Notably Article II Section 26 uses the phrase political dynasties as may be defined by law, which is different from the other provisions in the constitution, which uses the language as may be provided by law. As such, it is our position that only the definition is left to the wisdom of the Congress not the prohibition itself,” Yarcia said.</p><p>Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution says the State will guarantee “equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”</p><p>Garcia also wants the law to be “brief, broad, definite,” free of any leeway for Comelec to interpret the policy.</p><p>“Dapat po brief, broad, definite. As much as possible, the Comelec will not be left to interpret what is your desire as provided in the provisions of the law,” Garcia said during the meeting.</p><p>Garcia called on lawmakers to consider other provisions of the law that may need amendments in order to fully implement a law against political dynasties.</p><p>“Please kindly consider the other provisions of the law simply because if we will not properly amend other provisions of the election code and other election laws, hindi rin po natin maipapatupad nang tama ang napakaganda na panukalang batas na ito,” Garcia added.</p><p>When asked about a potential conflict between the right to be elected and prohibiting people related to incumbent officials or other candidates from running, Garcia said the anti-political dynasty provision is superior to the right of suffrage in the hierarchy of articles.</p><p>“The anti-political dynasty provision, although not defined by the framers of the constitution, was included under Article II of the declaration of principles and state policy,&quot; Garcia said.</p><p>Garcia continued, &quot;The right of suffrage is under article V. In the hierarchy of articles, therefore, the declaration of policy is superior than any other provision after the article II.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CANCELLATION VS. DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDACY</strong></div><p>Among differences in the House bills filed is the remedies offered with some calling for disqualification of candidacy while some are for cancellation.</p><p>“‘Pag po cancellation of candidacy, ‘yan po ay nakalagay sa Section 78 ng Omnibus Election Code, ano po ‘yun, material misrepresentation of a fact, which under the law should be declared by the candidate. And what is that fact? Section 74 ng Omnibus Election Code– the contents of the certificate of candidacy, siyempre po doon sa contents of the certificate of candidacy, wala namang political dynasty doon. So ano pong gagawin po ba natin? Kung magkakaroon ng batas, are we going to likewise amend Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code to include that as one of the contents of the certificate of candidacy?” Garcia asked.</p><p>For Adiong, this matter will boil down to what the House committee decides on.</p><p>But Comelec’s position on the issue matters greatly, Adiong said.</p><p>“Magma-matter talaga ‘yun– ‘yung position doon ng Comelec. So titingnan natin… But as much as possible, we try to avoid creating more legal problems if ever this bill becomes a law,&quot; Adiong told reporters.</p><p>Adiong added, they hope to be joined by retired justices in the next hearing on anti-political dynasty bills.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/4-decades-in-congress-can-the-anti-political-dynasty-bill-this-time-be-different-1955">4 decades in Congress: Can the anti-political dynasty bill this time be different?</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N1mrDqKu0B0?si=Nm3kC2_pxFuuR18W" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms opened its meeting to tackle proposed measures prohibiting political dynasties.</p>

The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms opened its meeting to tackle proposed measures prohibiting political dynasties.

House panel starts tackling proposed anti-political dynasty measures

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House panel starts tackling proposed anti-political dynasty measures

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 27, 2026 03:12 PM PHT

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Updated January 27, 2026 06:08 PM PHT

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