House calls for anti-dynasty law under Marcos administration

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer

REFORM. House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III urged members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday to support the passage of an Anti-Political Dynasty Bill in fighting corruption (Nov. 11, 2025). (Screengrab from House of Representatives/YouTube)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives, in an unprecedented scene, witnessed a growing demand for an Anti-Political Dynasty law as recent corruption probes reveal apparent roots to prominent political dynasties.

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III backs the proposal of anti-dynasty bills in his speech on Tuesday, finally upholding the mandate of Congress under the Philippine Constitution to define a political dynasty.

Dy argued that while he himself is part of a political dynasty, it is still the people who elect officials into public office.

“Ang layuning ito (Anti-Dynasty Bill) ay hindi upang hadlangan ang sinuman, kung hindi upang palawakin ang pagkakataon para sa mas maraming Pilipino na makapaglingkod at makibahagi sa pamahalaan,” he said.

(The purpose of the Anti-Dynasty Bill is not to prevent anyone from running, but to broaden the chance for more Filipinos to serve and participate in the government.)

He challenged his fellow congressmen to be open to enacting reformative changes in the government, keeping the public’s confidence in their elected leaders who champion the fight against corruption and the demand for a just system.

On the same day, members of the Akbayan bloc filed House Bill 5905, citing the implementation of Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to “guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

The House bloc said that the existence of political families for decades is among the reasons why corruption persists both in local and national seats, hampering democratic development.

“Sadly, political dynasties have grown in defiance of that mandate for decades. We should finally put a stop to this by passing this measure so we can end corruption and the rule of the few, giving others the opportunity to serve our countrymen,” Rep. Chel Diokno said.

Rep. Perci Cendaña likens political dynasties to a business cartel that has no safeguards or mechanisms to hold familial officials accountable.

“It’s like a business cartel; when only a few families monopolize power, it becomes an opportunity to amass money instead of serving the nation. If the mayor is corrupt, how can the vice mayor and the councilors watch over him if they are his wife, child, or cousin?” Cendaña said.

Marcos Jr. urged to prioritize anti-dynasty bills

Former Bayan Muna representative and human rights lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate on Thursday demanded that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prioritize the passage of an Anti-Dynasty law, should the head of state claim his commitment to fighting corruption under his administration.

In a statement, the former congressman specifically cited two previously filed House Bills (HB) by the Makabayan Bloc for “An Act Defining and Prohibiting Political Dynasties.”

HB No. 209 was filed by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co in late June, while HB 4784 was filed by Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago in September.

Zarate underscored that the accumulation and prolonged stay in power by powerful political clans, such as the Marcoses and Dutertes, is single-handedly the linchpin of why corruption continues in government.

“The greatest enabler of corruption in our nation is the system of political dynasties, where a few families treat public office as a private heirloom,” he said.

“If President Marcos Jr. is truly serious about fighting corruption, he must recognize that the root of the problem lies in the decades-long control of political power by a privileged few. Political dynasties breed impunity, erode checks and balances, and ensure that public service is treated as a birthright rather than a public trust,” he added.

Zarate specifies that the two HB “define and prohibit political dynasties by banning relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity—such as parents, children, siblings, and cousins—from simultaneously holding or running for national or local office, or from directly succeeding an incumbent relative.”

Should the president certify the bills as urgent, it is only from there that the dismantling of the oppressive political structures in the Philippines, which have long solidified certain families, will signify a genuine reform in the system, Zarate said.

A 2025 report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) showed that there are at least 18 “obese” political dynasties across the country, i.e., more than four elected family members, who won seats in the May midterm polls.