SC: No ruling yet on anti-dynasty bill petitions

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

The SC issued the clarification following a report Thursday that “it will move to compel Congress to pass a law defining political dynasties…” (File Photo By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday clarified that it has yet to issue a decision directing Congress to pass an anti-political dynasty law, contrary to published reports.

“These cases (asking to compel Congress) are still pending before the Court,” said Court spokesperson Camille Ting.

“(T)he article published… on this is erroneous. We are already writing to have it corrected. (There is) no such decision. What we uploaded were the petitions and other pleadings asking the SC to compel Congress to pass laws related to political dynasties. These cases are still pending before the Court,” she stressed.

The SC issued the clarification following a report Thursday that “it will move to compel Congress to pass a law defining political dynasties…”

A group of lawyers has earlier petitioned the Supreme Court to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law.

The militant party-list group Bayan Muna has also reiterated its call for immediate passage.

According to a 2012 study published in the Philippine Political Science Journal, most government positions are held by politicians, who are members of political dynasties. From 1995 to 2007, an average of 31.3 percent of all congressmen and 23.1 percent of governors were replaced by relatives.

It was estimated that 40 percent of all provinces in the Philippines have a governor and congressman related in some way.