House bill legitimizes dynasties – Cendaña

MANILA, Philippines — For opposition lawmaker Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, the version of the anti-dynasty bill proposed by some leaders of the House of Representatives goes against the spirit of the 1987 Constitution.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News last Friday, Cendaña said House Bill 6771 filed by Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos will not curb and instead legitimize the existence of political dynasties in the Philippines.

Under the proposed bill, members of the same family are prohibited from holding elective posts if these are classified within the same cluster.

The six clusters identified in the bill were: national (president, vice president and senators), House of Representatives (district and party-list), provincial, city, municipal and barangay.

But critics noted that this will still allow – and even legitimize – members of a political dynasty to hold multiple posts at the same time, provided that these are in different clusters.

For instance, close relatives may still simultaneously serve as president, congressman, governor, city mayor, municipal mayor and barangay captain.

In an earlier interview with “Storycon,” House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin described the proposed bill as a “compromise,” noting that the leadership needs to secure enough support from members of the lower chamber, many of whom are part of dynasties.