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Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto takes his oath as he begins his third and final term during a ceremony for incoming elected officials at South Drive, Bridgetowne, Barangay Rosario, Pasig City on June 30, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto takes his oath as he begins his third and final term during a ceremony for incoming elected officials at South Drive, Bridgetowne, Barangay Rosario, Pasig City on June 30, 2025. During the ceremony, Sotto declared that he will not pursue any post in the 2028 elections after his stint as mayor.
Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VICO SOTTO

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/177060925825520250630-pasig-mayor-vico-sotto-MD4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto takes his oath as he begins his third and final term during a ceremony for incoming elected officials at South Drive, Bridgetowne, Barangay Rosario, Pasig City on June 30, 2025. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em><br id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE) — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday expressed support for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, saying power should not be concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po ito laban sa isang pamilya, hindi po ito laban sa isang indibidwal o sa isang politiko... Ang ayaw po natin dito ay yung concentration ng kapangyarihan sa kamay ng iilan lamang,&quot; Sotto said.</p><p>The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People&#x27;s Participation, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, on Monday held the first consultative meeting for the 20th Congress of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation on anti-political dynasty bills.</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 event held in Rizal High School, Pasig City on Monday brought together students, civil society organizations, academics, and representatives from the local government and church.</p><p>Panelists include Sotto and Francis Aquino Dee, co-convenor of the Anti-Dynasty Network (ADN).</p><p>&quot;Pangalawa po ang nilalabanan at inaayawan po natin dito ay ang paggamit ng resources ng taumbayan. The use of state resources, the use of taxpayers’ money to perpetuate themselves in power. Ibig pong sabihin, ginagamit ang makinarya ng pamahalaan para sa pangangampanya nila, ginagamit ang pera ng taumbayan para hindi na sila maalis sa puwesto,&quot; Sotto added.</p><p>Sotto also comes from a political family with his uncle being Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.</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>According to the mayor, the Constitution guarantees equal access to opportunities for public service, and that those who are qualified to serve should be allowed to serve, no matter the surname and even if they are lacking in resources and machinery.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UP TO 4TH DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY</strong></div><div> </div><p>For Dee, the ban on political dynasties should extend up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, which covers cousins, and not just the second degree, which covers spouses, descendants, and siblings.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon at sa mga darating na taon feeling ko mas kailangan yun kasi mas tight-knit ang mga pamilya ngayon,&quot; Dee said.</p><p>Dee is a scion of the Aquino family, which has been in politics for decades. He is the grandchild of former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., and nephew of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.</p><p>The ADN is also of the position that political dynasties should not be allowed to hold government positions in a successive manner.</p><p>“Kung tuloy-tuloy po &#x27;yung kapit ng isang pamilya dito sa isang distrito o sa isang office, sa pagka-mayor, sa pagka-gobernardor, parang nagiging kampante po &#x27;yung mga politiko natin, mas hindi sila mag-e-effort para sa taumbayan dahil sigurado na hindi sila matatalo sa isang eleksiyon,” Dee explained.</p><p>He also cautioned against allowing members of political dynasties from holding positions simultaneously.</p><p>“&#x27;Yung kongresista ipagtatanggol niya &#x27;yung kapatid niya o &#x27;yung kamag-anak niyang mayor kapag kinu-kuwestiyon &#x27;yung budget nito sa Kongreso,” Dee said.</p><p>“Yung malalang korupsiyon na nararanasan natin ngayon sa <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/political-dynasties-partly-to-blame-for-flood-control-crisis-ngo-says-1822">flood control, malinaw &#x27;yung koneksyon nito dito sa issue ng nepo babies </a>sa pagkakaroon ng mga kamag-anak na sila &#x27;yung dapat nagtse-check sa isa’t isa pero pinapabayaan &#x27;yung isa’t isa dahil magkakaanak nga sila,” he added.</p><p>Sangguninang Kabataan Federation President Jonas Abadilla, meanwhile, cited the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, which has a provision banning political dynasties up to the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.</p><p>“Napatunayan na po na kaya po natin sa Pilipinas na magpasa po ng ganitong klaseng batas at anti-political dynasty. Kaya po sa Sangguniang Kabataan, ang stance po ng ating mga kabataan ay talaga namang mag-oppose po tayo sa political dynasty,” Abadila stated.</p><p>Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairman of the committee, said a true anti-political dynasty bill must be passed.</p><p>“Ang kailangan po natin ay isang batas kontra-dinastiya na praktikal at may pagkakasundo — hindi lang sa aming mga mambabatas, pati sa ating mga mamamayan. Isang panukalang of course, sumusunod sa Konstitusyon, dinig ang mga concern ng iba’t ibang sektor, inuuna ang kapakanan ng botante, at kayang aktwal na ipatupad sa totoong sitwasyon ng mga komunidad,” Hontiveros said.</p><p>The committee will hold more consultative meetings in Laguna, Bacolod, Bulacan and Cagayan De Oro in the coming days. </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;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday expressed support for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, saying power should not be concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.</p>

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday expressed support for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, saying power should not be concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.

Vico Sotto supports anti-dynasty law: 'Ayaw natin 'yung concentration ng kapangyarihan sa iilan lamang'

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Vico Sotto supports anti-dynasty law: 'Ayaw natin 'yung concentration ng kapangyarihan sa iilan lamang'

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 09, 2026 12:04 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 09, 2026 12:54 PM PHT

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Vico Sotto

Pasig

Political Dynasty

Anti-Political Dynasty

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