Another bill vs political dynasties filed

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has filed her version of the measure seeking to ban from elective positions members of political dynasties, which she blamed for corruption and systemic poverty in the country.

In Senate Bill No. 1548, Hontiveros defined political dynasties as those related to each other within the fourth degree of consanguinity and who run simultaneously for national or local elective positions, including
party-list seats.

“No person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent national elective office shall be allowed to hold or run for national elective office,” the bill read.

“In all cases, no person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent local elective official shall immediately succeed the latter’s office by election,” the bill added.

The proposed measure empowers the public to file complaints before the Commission on Elections, which can motu proprio disqualify a political dynasty member from running for public office.

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution expressly prohibits political dynasties as defined by law. In the absence of an enabling law, the constitutional ban remains unenforced for more than three decades.

In her explanatory note, Hontiveros said “the absence of an enabling law has enabled the continued dominance of political dynasties across the country.”

Hontiveros cited studies which showed that “fat dynasties” ruled over the poorest provinces in the country, and that “dynastic dominance both emerges from and perpetuates poverty and exclusion.”

“The Philippine Institute for Development Studies has stated that political dynasties compromise checks-and-balances and create conflicts of interest in public finance, especially when governors, district representatives and several mayors are related to one another,” she said.

Corruption also thrives in areas dominated by political dynasties, Hontiveros said, adding that “entrenched families can divert public resources, weaken oversight and engage in self-serving policies without fear of accountability.”

The other senators who filed anti-political dynasty bills are Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Robinhood Padilla. Lacson has vowed to vigorously pursue the measure as chairman of the Senate electoral reforms committee.