Joselito Malig

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Senate has started plenary deliberations on a committee report on a consolidated anti political dynasty bill that seeks to ban 2nd degree relations of candidates from elected public office, which means parents, children and siblings, and even unmarried partners.At least 12 senators have so far signed off on the measure.The 12 include members of existing dynasties: Senators Erwin Tulfo, Imee Marcos, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Miguel Zubiri,  and Loren Legarda. The others are Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson, Robin Padilla, and Lito Lapid.Tulfo has another brother in the Senate who is expected to seek reelection in 2028 -- Senator Raffy Tulfo. Ejercito&#x27;s brother Jinggoy Estrada is likewise expected to seek reelection to the Senate.Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and Peoples Participation chair Risa Hontiveros confirmed this.Hontiveros and Ejercito delivered sponsorship speeches during the plenary session, triggering the plenary deliberations on the measure.&quot;Political dynasties are not only a political issue. They are an economic issue. Studies by the Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, and reputable think tanks have consistently shown a correlation between entrenched dynasties and higher poverty incidence, weaker human development outcomes, and slower local economic growth,&quot; Hontiveros said during the plenary session. &quot;Sa mga lugar kung saan umiikot lamang sa iilang pamilya ang kapangyarihan, malimit mas mataas ang kahirapan. Mas mahina ang mobility. Mas limitado ang oportunidad. Why? Because competition disciplines power.&quot; Hontiveros added, &quot;Kapag masikip ang pintuan papasok sa politika, masikip din ang daloy ng ideya, reporma, at oportunidad. Walang incentive para maging achiever, maging magaling at masinop na lingkod-bayan, kasi nga naman pasa-pasa lang. The position becomes a birthright, and not something to fight for.&quot; &quot;We must also address corruption. When several members of one family simultaneously hold office across a province, city, or municipality, accountability becomes complicated,&quot; Hontiveros also said. &quot;We understand the sensitivity of this measure. Many of us come from families with long traditions of public service. Totoo po, marami sa mga pamilyang nasa politika ay naglilingkod ng marangal at may dangal. This bill is not about attacking families or questioning anyone’s long tradition of public service. That tradition itself shows that public service can be honorable. But today is about institutional legacy. Kung hindi natin kikilalanin ang utos ng Konstitusyon ngayon, kailan pa? If we truly believe in equal access to public service, then we must create rules that widen access.&quot; &quot;The bill is not an assault on political families, and those who belong in them. What it does is prevent simultaneous concentration of power, within the same family in the same sphere of governance,&quot; Hontiveros stressed.&quot;Our economic and social progress is being jeopardized by a system that has not benefited the Filipinos for a long time,&quot; Ejercito said.He highlighted the proliferation of dynasties in public office.&quot;Within the legislative branch, over half of district representatives seeking re-election belong to political dynasties. Moreover, the party-list system, intended to expand political representation, has similarly been captured by dynastic interests, with 78 of 156 party-list organizations associated with political families. Furthermore, the share of provincial governors, House members, and mayors from political dynasties rose from 57%, 48%, and 40% in 2004 to 80%, 67%, and 53% in 2025, reflecting the growing concentration of political power within a few families.  Mr. President, when public office becomes a family heirloom, the &quot;public&quot; part of the office begins to disappear,&quot; he added.Hontiveros, whose panel prepared the report with the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, explained how the ban works under the bill covered by the committee report which consolidates other bills on the same matter for final plenary action.&quot;Dinedefine namin sa committee report ang political dynasty bilang hanggang sa second degree of consanguinity and affinity. Tapos binibilang hiwalay ang national positions sa local positions. Walang prohibition between national and local. Ang party list ay prohibited kung may national position na o kung may local position na ang isang dynasty. Prohibited pareho ang simultaneous at saka successive holding of positions. Ano pa? May penalties, may mechanisms na ibinibigay sa Commission on Elections para i-enforce itong prohibition,&quot; Hontiveros told reporters. She gave an example of what is considered second degree, adding it can be implemented in time for the 2028 elections. &quot;Pag naipasa ito, kahit to the second degree lang, yun, yung mga second degree relatives ng mga dynast ay prohibited na sa 2028.&quot;Hontiveros cited a study saying this could affect 30% of dynasties on the ground.&quot;Ang second degree po ay, so, once removed from you. So, kumbaga, ako&#x27;y first degree. Kasama sa ban, ang magulang ko, kapatid, asawa. anak.&quot; Hontiveros said, &quot;Ang spouse ay dinedefine to include yung partner outside of the marriage relationship. So, anak sa labas, second degree, anak eh.&quot; &quot;Sakop ang hindi kasal na couple kung nagko-cohabit and nagpapakilala bilang couple. So, regardless sa civil status at regardless sa SOGIESC nila pag nagko-cohabit sila bilang couple, magko-cover sila dapat ng ban second degree.&quot;Hontiveros explained this is what appears to be implementable by the Commission on Elections.&quot;So, if we look at it that way, kung maipasa at least ang second degree, kahit second degree man lang, ay pwedeng sabihin na mas madaling i-implement ng Comelec.&quot; Hontiveros also said it is a version that may gather broad support among lawmakers, many of whom are scions of dynasties.She allayed concerns this is a watered down bill, saying nothing prevents the legislation of a tougher bill in the future.The bill on its face bans the following:- Spouses, or two or more relatives hold simultaneous or overlapping terms in national elective offices;- Spouses, or two or more relatives hold simultaneous terms in local elective offices within the same legislative district, province, city, or municipality; Provided, that it shall include a situation where spouses or two or more relatives occupy local elective offices in separate municipalities, highly urbanized cities, or component cities within the same province, or legislative districts within the same local government unit;- Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous terms within and across party-lists;- Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous or overlapping terms under the party-list system, and any national or local elective office;- A spouse or relative of an incumbent elective official immediately succeeds the latter&#x27;s office.The certificate of candidacy to be filed with the COMELEC by any person running for any elective office must include a certification made under oath that:a ) they have no spouse or relative holding an elective office where the affiant&#x27;s possible assumption to public office would result in a political dynasty relationship;b ) they have n o spouse or relative running for an elective office in the same elections, where joint favorable electoral outcomes would result in a political dynasty relationship;c) should their spouse or relative file a certificate of candidacy which creates a potential political dynasty relationship, they shall subject themselves to the procedures contained herein to determine the individual who can proceed to contest the election;d ) should they obtain knowledge of filings which create a potential political dynasty relationship a s defined herein, they shall promptly report the relevant filings to the COMELEC within five (5) calendar days from the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy.In the case of party-lists, the certificate o f nomination and acceptance to be filed with the COMELEC shall include a certification made under oath by the nominees that:a) the nominees have no spouse or relative holding an elective office where the affiant&#x27;s possible assumption to public office would result in a political dynasty relationship;b) the nominees have no spouse or relative running for an elective office in the same elections, where joint favorable electoral outcomes would result in a political dynasty relationship;c ) should any spouse or relative of a nominee file a certificate of candidacy which creates a potential political dynasty relationship, they shall subject themselves to the procedures contained herein to determine the individual who can proceed to contest the election;d) should any nominee obtain knowledge of filings which create a potential political dynasty relationship as defined herein, they shall promptly report the relevant filings t o the COMELEC within five (5) calendar days from the last day o f the filing of certificates of nomination and acceptance.Hontiveros said dynasties will be tasked to pick just one member to run in the election if there is more than one who plans to run.&quot;Right of first refusal sa pamilya. Mag-usap po sila. Sino ba sa kanila within the ban ang pwedeng tumakbo. I suppose kapag hindi magkasundo ang pamilya for one reason or another, kaya binibigyan namin ng mechanisms sa kamay ng Comelec na sila ang magpatupad.&quot;&quot;So kung hindi talaga kakayanin or ayaw gawin ng dynasty na sila ang pumili, then may, if I remember correctly, yung isang main feature ay kasama na dun sa documents na isasubmit, disclaimer na member ng dynasty as defined now by the law. Tapos kung mapatunayan pa rin ng Comelec, kahit motu proprio na member naman siya ng dynasty as defined, ay pwedeng hindi tanggapin or bawiin yung certificate of candidacy.&quot;The committee report and bill are expected to be submitted to the plenary for its action, with the hope that the Senate can approve it before it adjourns for its summer break end of next month.Hontiveros noted this is a priority bill of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).For his part, Senate President Vicente Sotto III reiterated this is one of their priority bills for passage by June.&quot;Hanggang June. Meron lang break. May Easter break pero walang problema,&quot; Sotto said, adding he agreed with the ban covering only relatives upto to the 2nd degree,.

The Senate has started plenary deliberations on a committee report on a consolidated anti political dynasty bill that seeks to ban 2nd degree relations of candidates from elected public office, which means parents, children and siblings, and even unmarried partners.

The Senate has started plenary deliberations on a committee report on a consolidated anti political dynasty bill that seeks to ban 2nd degree relations of candidates from elected public office, which means parents, children and siblings, and even unmarried partners.

Senate plenary tackles anti political dynasty bill

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Senate plenary tackles anti political dynasty bill

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 24, 2026 06:29 PM PHT

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