2nd-degree ban gains ground as House consolidates anti-dynasty bills

By Zaldy De Layola, Philippine News Agency

In a press briefing, Adiong said the working draft is House Bill (HB) No. 6671 filed by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos Jr., which has already garnered 144 co-authors since it was filed last December. “The goal is to craft an agreeable, constitutionally sound Anti-Political Dynasty law that can gather broad support in Congress and endure legal challenges,” he added. (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday said a second-degree civil relationship prohibition is emerging as the majority position after the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms consolidates 24 anti-political dynasty measures into one substitute bill.

In a press briefing, Adiong said the working draft is House Bill (HB) No. 6671 filed by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos Jr., which has already garnered 144 co-authors since it was filed last December.

The panel chairperson said the committee hopes to finalize its report next week following public consultations in Cavite City, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City.

“Our responsibility now is to consolidate these varied inputs into a version that is principled, balanced and enforceable,” Adiong said.

“The goal is to craft an agreeable, constitutionally sound Anti-Political Dynasty law that can gather broad support in Congress and endure legal challenges,” he added.

Adiong stressed that the constitutional prohibition itself is not in dispute, as the debate centers on the degree of relationship to be covered.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, whose proposed measure extends the ban up to the fourth degree of relationship, acknowledged the difficulty of implementing such a strict prohibition and said he is open to reducing it to the second degree.

“Ayaw rin natin ‘yung perfect bill na-based sa preference natin kaso hindi siya mapapasa (We don’t also want a perfect bill based on our preference but that won’t pass). Because when we make laws it’s not about personal preference, it’s about collective agreement,” Suan pointed out.

1TAHANAN Rep. Nathaniel Oducado, another author of the anti-political dynasty bill, said HB 6671 filed by Dy and Marcos strikes a balance between constitutional intent and political realities.

“So far, I think our group will agree that the best approach is HB 6671 of Speaker Bojie and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos because it is congruent with the constitutional intent, but at the same time, it balances it with what is the political reality and what is necessary on the ground,” he said.

Under HB 6671, a political dynasty refers to the concentration or dominance of elective political power by persons related to one another.

The bill covers all elective positions from the national level down to the barangay level, including President, Vice President, Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, governors, mayors and barangay officials.

It prohibits spouses and covered relatives from simultaneously holding elective positions within the same political jurisdiction, preventing family members from consolidating political power at the same national, provincial, city, municipal, legislative district or barangay level.