Marilyn Cahatol

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Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms approved a substitute House bill consolidating 25 proposed measures to prohibit political dynasties, with the version by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, House Bill 6771, having served as a working draft.</p><p>But unlike what <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/11/speaker-dy-sandro-marcos-file-anti-political-dynasty-bill-1515">Dy and Marcos filed</a>, the bill defines political dynasty relationships as those within the second degree of consanguinity, instead of the fourth.</p><p>“Logic would dictate that that is the most backed up version of all the 25 versions of anti-political dynasty. That’s why we are making it as a working draft for now,” Adiong said.</p><p>The move towards approval of the substitute bill was met with backlash from various House lawmakers, some of which withdrew their authorship.</p><p>Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, House Deputy Minority Leader Kaka Bag-ao, those under the Akbayan party-list, Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co, and ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio withdrew their authorship during the hearing.</p><p>According to Erice, who walked out of the meeting after withdrawal, the version to be used for the working draft was a “pro-political dynasty bill.”</p><p>“Ang tunay na anti-political dynasty bill, maliwanag naman yung framers, ang intention, legislative intent ng mga framers ng 1987 Constitution, dapat it will promote equal access and opportunities to ordinary citizens. At pangalawa, it should prevent the monopoly of power. Dito puwede isang senador, isang governor, limang congressman kung lima ang distrito, 10 mayor kung 10 ang city, 20 municipal mayor, 100 barangay captain, basta pwede magkakamag-anak lahat at pati SK chairman. So ito po ay pambabastos sa Article 2 Section 29 ng ating Constitution,” Erice told the media.</p><p>And while the motion on using House Bill 6771 as a working draft was being discussed, Erice said, “Bago niyo po i-consolidate, wini-withdraw ko na po. Huwag niyo na po isama ‘yung aking bill. Hindi po ako papayag na makasama ‘yung bill ko sa ganyang klase na usapan.”</p><p>Before this, Erice said the version to be used for the working draft was a “pro-political dynasty bill.”</p><p>Bag-ao also opposed the omission of any provision against succession.</p><p>“Sana po magkaroon ng pagkakataong pag-usapan natin paano siya lagyan ng laman. Puwede naman talaga tayo hindi magkasundo sa ano po ‘yung ilalagay. Kaya lang po kung isang subject matter kagaya ng succession ay hindi man lang na-mention dito at hindi na bubuksan ang pagkakataong magbigay ng rekomendasyon ng provision halimbawa tungkol diyan ay tingin ko parang hindi po tama ‘yung proseso,” Bag-ao said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘RAILROADING OF THE APPROVAL’</strong></div><p>Tinio accused committee members of “railroading” the approval of the substitute bill, expressing his disappointment over the process the panel followed.</p><p>“Ang normal na proseso po natin para makapag-produce ng isang substitute version — we can go to a technical working group. And then sa technical working group (TWG), may pinipili na isa, which will serve as the working draft, which is supposedly what we did just now. And then doon nagkakaroon ng malayang diskusyon sa mga contentious issues,” Tinio said.</p><p>“Walang nangyaring technical working group, Mr. Chair. At walang naging venue ‘yung mga iba’t ibang authors na makapagpahayag ng kanilang position at magkaroon ng debate. Instead, sinabi nung una we will adopt as draft itong bill na ito. And then immediately after, approved na as substitute bill… This is a very clear example of railroading of the approval without discussion,” Tinio added.</p><p>During the hearing, Bukidnon 2nd District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores initially moved to consolidate all 25 anti-political dynasty bills using House Bill 6771 as a working draft, which was approved after much opposition from congressmen such as Erice.</p><p>Flores later moved to adopt and approve an unnumbered substitute House bill given to the members.</p><p>Erice and Tinio objected to the motion.</p><p>But the motion was eventually approved after 20 members supported this while four objected.</p><p>“We’re actually doing this na may timeline po tayo na gusto natin ma-approve ito agad kasi nga tama ‘yung sinabi ng ating mga kasamahan. 40 years na tayo sinisingil ng ating taong bayan,” Adiong said during the hearing.</p><p>Adiong also later clarified there are avenues for other lawmakers to propose amendments.</p><p>“There will still be avenues for any members here to introduce an amendment to the substitute House bill. We can still discuss naman po. There’s also the plenary discussion on the floor… Imposible naman po na ma-consolidate natin all the 25 bills. But the TWG tried their best to consolidate and reconcile all the sections,” Adiong said.</p><p>Flores also defended the approval of the substitute bill, saying this is the version they believe would pass in the lower chamber.</p><p>“Ang amin lang is this is the version that we think we could pass in the House and we think we could get the most support. So gaya nga sinabi ng chairman na ngayon, it&#x27;s a big leap forward kasi dati in one political unit, puwede unli– unli members of the same family. Ngayon, isa na lang talaga in the versions that we&#x27;re working on,” Flores said during a press conference after the hearing.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/house-panel-chair-foresees-approval-of-bill-for-limited-ban-on-dynasties-2042">House panel chair foresees approval of bill for limited ban on dynasties</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>APPROVAL OF SUBSTITUTE BILL BACKED BY SPEAKER, SLAMMED BY MAKABAYAN</strong></div><p>In a statement, Dy hailed the approval of the bill, saying, “The House is serious about upholding the Constitution in full—not selectively, but faithfully. This groundbreaking reform seeks to establish fairness, equal access to public office, and a more level playing field.”</p><p>Dy also showed support for the substitute bill defining political dynasty relationships only until the second degree, saying this reflects what was discussed during public consultations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.</p><p>“The second-degree coverage is the product of listening, careful study, and efforts to find common ground. It reflects a balanced approach instituting this long overdue reform,” Dy said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" 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>Meanwhile, Makabayan lawmakers Tinio, Co, and Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Jane Elago said they are withdrawing their support from the substitute bill they call “watered down.”</p><p>A statement from the Makabayan bloc described the measure as one “full of loopholes and deliberately designed to preserve the status quo.”</p><p>“Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution does not say ‘regulate.’ It says ‘prohibit.’ Any enabling law that falls short of outright prohibition is not reform — it is a mockery of the Constitution, and we refuse to be party to it. The compromise bills expose the sham reform agenda of Marcos Jr. He is not interested in abolishing political dynasties. He himself belongs to a political dynasty and he seeks to perpetuate it. Hindi kami magpapagamit,” the statement reads.</p><div> </div><div><strong>PLENARY DEBATES NEXT WEEK</strong></div><p>Adiong said he expects plenary debates on the bill to begin next week.</p><p>“Just earlier today, we adopted the committee report. And hopefully by next week, we will be delivering our committee report on the plenary to also start and begin the plenary debates for its eventual approval on the floor,” Adiong said during the press conference.</p><p>If passed into law, this ban on political dynasties would apply by the 2028 elections, according to Adiong. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/senate-plenary-tackles-anti-political-dynasty-bill-1829">Senate plenary tackles anti political dynasty bill</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DE LIMA REPLACES ERICE</strong></div><p>ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima was elected as Senior Deputy Minority Leader during plenary session on Tuesday afternoon, replacing Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Erice made scathing remarks against President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Junior, questioning the chief executive’s intent in making vows regarding flood control corruption and political dynasties.</p><p>&quot;Sabi ni Presidente Marcos priority niya magpakulong dahil dito sa flood control. Nagawa niya ba? Hindi. Bola lang. Sinabi ni presidente priority niya ‘yung independent commission. Naipasa ba? Hindi. Bola lang. Ngayon, sabi niya priority niya anti-political dynasty. Alam na alam niya ‘yung meeting ng dynasty sapagkat kaming dalawa ang author nung kauna-unahang batas na mayroong provision na anti-political dynasty bill. Bola lahat,&quot; Erice said during the meeting of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.</p><p>The reason behind the change in leadership was not stated by House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan who made the move towards electing De Lima. </p><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/0k6PXLc7zrk?si=b60Q5khw7PUXtFg2" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms approved a substitute House bill consolidating 25 proposed measures to prohibit political dynasties.</p>

The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms approved a substitute House bill consolidating 25 proposed measures to prohibit political dynasties.

Substitute House bill consolidating measures vs. political dynasties approved at committee level

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Substitute House bill consolidating measures vs. political dynasties approved at committee level

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 03, 2026 04:36 PM PHT

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Updated March 03, 2026 05:24 PM PHT

Read More:

political dynasty

House of Representatives

elections

consanguinity

House speaker

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