Critics unhappy with House’s final version of antidynasty bill
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed on final reading a bill barring second degree relatives from holding public office simultaneously, although minority lawmakers viewed the approved measure as a sham attempt at preventing dynastic clans from continuing to dominate politics.
With 267 lawmakers in favor, 20 against and seven abstaining, the chamber approved House Bill No. 8389, which bars spouses and relatives of up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity from occupying elective posts at the same time.
But the passage of the bill did not stop the minority from criticizing what they called an attempt to legitimize the existence of political dynasties instead of curbing their influence.
“We can do better than this,” Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima told the floor after the vote. “We can pass a law worth the wait, a law that the framers of the 1987 Constitution would recognize as the fulfillment of their mandate, not a betrayal of it. The Filipino people deserve better.”
The 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties, but requires an enabling law for it to take effect. Its Senate counterpart is pending on second reading.
The bill sponsored by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III, both from political clans themselves, defined dynasties as the “concentration, consolidation or dominance of elective political power” among a few families.
“This measure does not intend to target families or restrict legitimate political participation,” Dy said in a statement. “It seeks to ensure that public office remains open to all Filipinos and that leadership is determined by the people’s trust, not by the concentration of power in a few clans.”
Enabling bill?
But Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña said the bill “actually enables political dynasties by redrawing the rules of the game.”
“We could have definitely done more,” he said, explaining his vote against the measure. “We missed a historic opportunity.”
First and second degrees of consanguinity and affinity refer to the familial relationships between a person and their parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and half-siblings as well as those of the person’s spouse.
The bill requires political candidates to file a sworn affidavit that they have no relatives seeking elective office that would lead to “any prohibited dynasty relationship” after the filing of their candidacy certificate.
They must also inform the Commission on Elections of relatives also running for office as soon as they become aware of it. Should relatives win seats at the same political level, such as the Senate, the one with the highest vote count will be declared the winner. For relatives running within the same political unit but at different levels, the one elected to the higher office will assume the post.
An antidynasty law has long been pushed in Congress without success since both chambers are dominated by political families.
The last time such a measure was taken up on the House floor was during the 16th Congress.
