Senator Panfilo Lacson is advocating for the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, aimed at fulfilling the 1987 Constitution’s provision that guarantees equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibits political dynasties.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Lacson discussed Senate Bill No. 35, titled “The Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2025.” This bill seeks to bar the spouse or any person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent official seeking reelection from running in the same city and/or province during the same election.
“This proposed measure seeks to strike a balance between the two competing fundamental principles of the electorate’s sovereignty and political dynasty. This is in consonance with the constitutional precept that laws should be interpreted not in the letter that killeth but to the spirit that giveth life,” Lacson explained.
He further elaborated, “Hence, the proposed measure seeks to prohibit the spouse or person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection, from holding or running for any elective office in the same city and/or province in the same election.”
Additionally, the proposed measure prohibits two or more individuals with a political dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the same city and/or province, even if neither is related to the incumbent public official.
In filing the bill, Lacson noted that while the State recognizes the detrimental effects of political dynasties, there is currently no enabling law to prohibit their existence in the political arena. “Influential clans and families that are well-entrenched in the political arena have made positions in government their virtual playgrounds, resulting in the proliferation of small monarchies all over the country. This makes a mockery of what should otherwise be a level-playing field in politics and espouses political inequities,” he stated.
Lacson lamented that despite numerous attempts to introduce an anti-political dynasty law since the 8th Congress to effect electoral reforms and level the political landscape, Congress has failed to pass such legislation.
Recently, Lacson accepted the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, an offer made to him by Senate President Francis Escudero through Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.