Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Senate bill restricting political dynasties has cleared committee deliberations and is now scheduled for plenary approval. Lawmakers said the measure represents a major step toward enforcing the Constitution’s anti-dynasty provision.
A compromise version of the legislation bars relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity from holding or succeeding each other in public office simultaneously. The Senate electoral reforms committee endorsed the draft last week.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee, sponsored Senate Bill 1901 and presented the report signed by 12 senators. She acknowledged that the second-degree limit was a compromise from her original proposal, which sought a stricter fourth-degree restriction.
Hontiveros described the measure as a historic milestone. She said it is the first anti-political dynasty bill mandated by the 1987 Constitution to reach this stage of approval.
The Constitution explicitly bans political dynasties, but the provision requires Congress to enact an enabling law. Previous legislative attempts to implement the rule stalled for decades.
Hontiveros said the second-degree restriction could affect roughly 30 percent of current political dynasties nationwide, potentially taking effect as early as the 2028 elections. The ban includes an incumbent’s parents, children, siblings, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, and in-laws.
She expressed optimism that the Senate could pass the measure by the end of March before Congress goes on recess. Co-sponsors include Senators JV Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bam Aquino, Lito Lapid, Erwin Tulfo, Robinhood Padilla, and Imee Marcos.
Separately, the House of Representatives filed a bill seeking to penalize legislators who switch political parties. House Bill 7914, filed by Rep. Leila de Lima and five Liberal Party lawmakers, targets “political opportunism and turncoatism,” which they said erodes public trust and accountability.
The House measure lists additional authors, including Reps. Adrian Michael Amatong, Arlene Bag-ao, Jaime Fresnedi, Cielo Krisel Lagman, and Alfonso Umali Jr., who said that lawmakers must remain accountable to their party platforms and constituents.
