The Consultative Committee on Charter Change (Cha-cha) tasked by the President to study proposals on possible amendments and revisions in the 1987 Constitution decided on March 12 to regulate political dynasties.
The 9-9 tie was broken by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno who voted for a regulation rather than a total ban on political dynasties.
Eddie Alih, Ali Balindong, Virgilio Bautista, Ferdinand Bocobo, Roan Libarios, Randolph Parcasio, Bienvenido Reyes, Rodolfo Robles, and Edmund Tayao voted in favor of a regulation.
While, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Antonio Arellano, Arthur Aguilar, Reuben Canoy, Susan Ubalde-Ordinario, Laurence Wacnang, Julio Teehankee, Antonio Nachura, and Victor dela Serna voted otherwise.
This decision of regulation also extends to an incumbent official’s relatives from the first and second degrees of consanguinity and affinity.
First degree of consanguinity or relationship by blood refers to parents and children, and the second degree includes grandparents, grandchildren, and brothers or sisters.
Meanwhile, first degree of affinity covers parents-in-law, while the second degree includes brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and grandparents-in-law.
Though Puno did not vote for a total ban, in late January, he said in an interview with ANC, political dynasties need to be ‘neutralized’ for a federal set-up of government.
(Read: Ex-CJ warns on ‘rushed’ federalism: a ‘lethal experiment’)
“That will be a very lethal experiment,” he said then added, “These states will be given the power to make their laws, execute their laws, interpret their laws, and that should be in the hands of political dynasties.”
In late January, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte formed the committee in preparation of a federal form of government.
A shift from a unitary form of government to federalism has been one of the key platforms of Duterte, and the President has been pushing for it upon presidency.