Antidynasty measure clears Senate committee, heads for plenary
A Senate committee report seeking to ban political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity has been signed by 12 senators, enough to send it to the plenary for discussion.
Those who signed the report of the Senate panel on electoral reforms and people’s participation on the proposed antipolitical dynasty bill were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Bam Aquino and Lito Lapid.
Only nine signatures are required for the committee report to be forwarded to the plenary.
According to Hontiveros who heads the panel, one of the nine major salient points of the report is the definition of a political dynasty as covering up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity.
“There are some studies, or at least one study, which said that even if the first antidynasty bill only covers up to the second degree, it could already affect around 30 percent of political dynasties on the ground,” she said.
Start of ban
She added that another salient feature was the enforcement of the ban starting in 2028.
“This will be implemented beginning in the next election. If that happens, it will shake things up at the local level,” Hontiveros said.
According to her, national positions will be counted separately from local positions while there will be no prohibition between national and local positions.
“Party list representation is prohibited if a dynasty member already holds a national or local position. Both simultaneous and successive holding of positions are prohibited. There are penalties and mechanisms being provided to the Commission on Elections to enforce this prohibition,” Hontiveros said.
The second degree of consanguinity and affinity ban covers one’s parents, siblings, spouses and children.
Coverage
Based on the committee report, a political dynasty relationship shall be deemed to exist in the following situations:
Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous or overlapping terms in national elective offices;
Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous terms in local elective offices within the same legislative district, province, city or municipality; Provided, that it shall include a situation where spouses or two or more relatives occupy local elective offices in separate municipalities, highly urbanized cities, or component cities within the same province, or legislative districts within the same local government unit;
Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous terms within and across party lists;
Spouses or two or more relatives hold simultaneous or overlapping terms under the party list system, and any national or local elective office;
A spouse or relative of an incumbent elective official immediately succeeds the latter’s office.
The measure also emphasized that succession or appointment to an elective office in any manner provided by law, whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, shall be deemed as holding an elective office.
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