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Launch of “Dapat Isa Lang,” a movement that aims to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law through a People’s Initiative. | via Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

QUEZON CITY — A coalition of civic, religious, and advocacy groups on Friday launched the “Dapat Isa Lang” movement, seeking to pass what it calls a “genuine” anti-political dynasty law through a People’s Initiative.The coalition includes 1SAMBAYAN, Clergy for Good Governance, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, Kontra Dinastiya, Makati Business Club, People’s Budget Coalition, and the Ateneo Human Rights Center.The proposed measure would limit political families to only one elected official in a national position and one in a local position. It also seeks to prohibit relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity — including cousins — from simultaneously holding office. Among its key provisions are:<ul style="list-style-type:disc"><li>Only one official in a national post and one official in a local post per political family;</li><li>A ban covering relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity;</li><li>Prohibition on succession, replacement, or switching of positions among relatives; and</li><li>A one-term cooling-off period after reaching term limits.</li></ul><div> </div>Under the People’s Initiative process, proponents must gather signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters nationwide, or around 6.9 million voters, with at least 3 percent from every legislative district.Once the signatures are collected, a petition will be filed before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which will verify the authenticity of signatures and determine whether signatories understood the proposal. The poll body would then hold a nationwide referendum where voters would decide whether to approve or reject the measure.The group said a People’s Initiative has become necessary because Congress has failed to pass an anti-political dynasty law nearly four decades after the 1987 Constitution mandated it.Lawyer Alex Lacson, founder of Kontra Dinastiya, criticized pending anti-dynasty bills in both chambers of Congress, saying these contain loopholes that would still allow political families to retain power.“‘Yung sa Senate version, although dalawa lang, isa sa national, isa sa local, pero hanggang the second degree,” Lacson said.“Ang ibig sabihin, hindi covered ‘yung pamangkin, hindi covered ‘yung tita, tito, hindi covered ‘yung pinsan. Anong mangyayari doon? After the three terms, maximum terms, ipapasa nila sa pamangkin nila, sa tito, tita nila, at sa mga pinsan nila. ‘Yan ang nangyayari,” he added. Lacson also criticized House Bill 8389, principally authored by Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, along with Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.“It allows one family, one in the national but several congressmen basta magkaiba daw ng distrito, several governors basta magkaiba daw na probinsya, several mayors,” Lacson said. “Is that really anti-dynasty? Huwag na tayong maglokohan pa,” he added.<div><a 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>Dy has previously defended his bill, saying it would help Congress fulfill its constitutional mandate to prohibit political dynasties.Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, argued that political dynasties contribute to corruption and misuse of public funds.“About 80 percent of the members of the House and 75 percent of the members of the Senate belong to political dynasties. And every year, the political dynasties in effect determine the budget,” Carpio stated.“Over a trillion pesos have been lost to flood control projects, flood control lang ha. So this is how they perpetuate themselves in power, by getting money from the budget through flood control projects, through ayudas. And every year it grows and grows,” he added.Carpio said breaking political dynasties is necessary to stop families from controlling the national budget and political system.The movement said passing a stricter anti-dynasty law would open the political process to more qualified and deserving candidates.<div>SIGNATURE DRIVE</div>Attorney Carlo Africa, spokesperson of Dapat Isa Lang, said the coalition has begun pilot signature drives in Zamboanga and Naga City ahead of a nationwide rollout in the coming days.The group hopes to complete signature gathering before the start of the 2028 election cycle.Africa said online signature collection is also being explored, particularly for overseas Filipino voters, although discussions with COMELEC are still ongoing.“Right now, we are talking to multiple schools and institutions to become collection sites,” Africa said. “You can reach out to us and we will give you the proper training, we&#x27;ll give you the proper process to make sure na we are fully compliant with the legal safeguards and standards,” Africa added.The movement also assured the public that safeguards would be in place to ensure the validity of signatures, including identity verification measures for online signatories.Africa said COMELEC initially estimated that around P16 billion may be needed to conduct a nationwide referendum.Former COMELEC commissioner Luie Guia, however, said the poll body already maintains contingency funds for exercises such as recall elections, referendums, and plebiscites.“Mandato ng COMELEC na magpatakbo ng referendum,” Guia said.Despite the challenges, organizers expressed confidence they can secure the required number of signatures.“Sa tingin ko ay handa naman po ang mga Pilipinong ipaglaban ang tunay na demokrasya na hindi na po tayo bihag ng mga iilang pamilya,” said Atty. Eirene Aguila of the People’s Initiative Coalition Against Dynasties.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RvqHQdb7VW4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A coalition of civic, religious, and advocacy groups on Friday launched the “Dapat Isa Lang” movement, seeking to pass what it calls a “genuine” anti-political dynasty law through a People’s Initiative.

A coalition of civic, religious, and advocacy groups on Friday launched the “Dapat Isa Lang” movement, seeking to pass what it calls a “genuine” anti-political dynasty law through a People’s Initiative.

‘Dapat Isa Lang’ movement launches push for anti-political dynasty law through People’s Initiative

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‘Dapat Isa Lang’ movement launches push for anti-political dynasty law through People’s Initiative

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 08, 2026 03:49 PM PHT

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dapat isa lang

anti-political dynasty

people’s initiative

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