People’s initiative suspension lifted

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has partially lifted the suspension of its rules on people’s initiative proceedings.

Acceptance of signatures for proposed national or local legislation has been allowed anew by the poll body, while maintaining the ban on initiatives seeking to amend the Constitution.

In minute Resolution 26-0223 dated March 18, the Comelec said the suspension imposed in January 2024 is lifted except for initiatives calling for constitutional amendments.

“We will not accept new signatures or filing of people’s initiative for the amendment of the Constitution because the rules on that are still suspended,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told The STAR.

“Civil society groups that want to push legislation – for example, anti-political dynasty – can now do so,” he said.

54% of local execs in dynasties

Political dynasties continue to hold most local elective positions, with preliminary results showing about 54 percent of provincial, district and municipal posts occupied by officials linked to political families.

Based on a study by the House of Representatives’ research arm, the 54-percent share translates to about 9,800 positions with an estimated 4,200 potential dynastic families identified nationwide.

Passing the anti-political dynasty law would limit families to one candidate per election, potentially freeing up about 5,700 positions now held by political clans, according to the Socioeconomic Research Bureau of the House’s Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department.

CPBRD deputy secretary general Romulo Emmanuel Miral V acknowledged the methodology is not without error, as some flagged officials with similar surnames could be unrelated.

An initial empirical mapping of political dynasties will be released in the coming weeks, the CPBRD said. –  Jose Rodel Clapano