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Scope of proposed anti-dynasty bill discussed in Bulacan

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Scope of proposed anti-dynasty bill discussed in Bulacan. Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771218904235HBPbf2saEAAwT1w.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Scope of proposed anti-dynasty bill discussed in Bulacan. <em>Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>BULACAN — Are unmarried couples running for public office in the same locality covered by the anti-political dynasty bill? How about same-sex couples?</p><p>These were some of the questions raised during the fourth consultative meeting of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation held in Marilao, Bulacan on Monday.</p><p>“Halimbawa po future husband ko is mayor ng ibang bayan, will that be covered?” Marilao Mayor Jemina Sy asked. “Kung mag-jowa lang po sila, covered po ba yun?”  </p><p>Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee, replied, “Sa bill ko kahit hindi po sila kasal ng simbahan o civilly, basta mayroon silang iisang tahanan at pinakikilala ang sarili nila bilang isang couple, kahit nga hindi po kasal, mako-cover ng ban. Kung iyong probisyong iyon sa bill ko ay maipasa.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/bacolod-backs-anti-political-dynasty-law-as-senate-panel-conducts-consultation-1323">Senate gets support for anti-political dynasty bills in consultative meeting in Bacolod</a></div><p>“Kung originally mga mayor ng magkaibang bayan pero habang nanunungkulan ay nag-ibigan at naging couple, sa susunod na eleksyon ay mako-cover sila kung cohabiting,” Hontiveros added.</p><p>Sy, a panelist in the meeting, said the goal of an anti-political dynasty law is not to punish anyone but to widen the opportunity for public service and to ensure that power does not lie in one group alone.</p><p>She believes it is enough to limit the ban on political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity, saying relatives in the fourth degree can be considered a separate household.</p><p>“The flow of wealth or the influence hindi na siya nasasalin doon sa ganoon kalayo,” Sy said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/political-dynasties-partly-to-blame-for-flood-control-crisis-ngo-says-1822">Political dynasties partly to blame for flood control crisis, NGO says</a></div><p>The Model SK Network, however, said limiting only to the second degree is not enough.</p><p>“Maaari po yung ibang tao sasabihin nila masyado nang malayo ang fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity, hindi po. Dahil po tayo sa Pilipinas we are a family-centric country. Most of the household nga po, di ba, extended family,” said Manuel Bernas, National Chairperson of the Model SK Network.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LIMIT ONLY TO LOCAL POLITICS?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Another panelist, Angeles City, Pampanga Vice Mayor Amos Rivera, also supports the passage of an anti-political dynasty bill, but suggested making the title inclusive, saying including the word “anti-political dynasty” goes against this.</p><p>“Parang mayroon na ho tayong wall na tinatayo sa mga dinastiyang nakaupong kasalukuyan,” Rivera said.</p><p>He also proposed limiting the scope to local politics, in the meantime.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/adiong-political-dynasty-ban-up-to-4th-degree-very-challenging-for-comelec-1153">Adiong: Political dynasty ban up to 4th degree ‘very challenging’ for Comelec</a></div><p>“Maganda rin po sigurong i-suggest na sa local level muna kung medyo mahirap sa, challenging sa national. Nakita natin sa barangay na-apply naman. Baka kasi kailangan dito, Senator, baka baby steps muna. Makita muna natin kung ano yung magiging traction niya. But regardless of kung ano man po ang ma-approve, ang importante po ay maisulong at then makita ho natin yung overall impact niya,” Rivera said.</p><p>Lawyer JT Santos, faculty from the School of Law of the Pampanga State University, proposed requiring a candidate to disclose if he has any relative who is an incumbent official, and imposing a penalty for those who will violate.</p><p>Santos also suggested including a qualification on which candidacy will be entertained by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) if a candidate has relatives who will also run in the elections.</p><p>Most Reverend Deogracias Iñiguez, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kalookan, hopes good points from the discussions on the bills will be applied to other laws in the country.</p><p>Another consultative meeting is scheduled on February 19 in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0k6PXLc7zrk?&amp;t=6s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Are unmarried couples running for public office in the same locality covered by the anti-political dynasty bill? How about same-sex couples? These were some of the questions raised during a consultative meeting in Bulacan.</p>

Are unmarried couples running for public office in the same locality covered by the anti-political dynasty bill? How about same-sex couples? These were some of the questions raised during a consultative meeting in Bulacan.

Scope of proposed anti-political dynasty bill discussed in Bulacan consultative meeting

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Scope of proposed anti-political dynasty bill discussed in Bulacan consultative meeting

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2026 01:24 PM PHT

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Updated February 16, 2026 01:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Anti Dynasty

Anti Political Dynasty

Bulacan

Risa Hontiveros

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