Biz, civic groups call on Senate to reject House Bill 8389, cite 'pro-dynasty' provisions

Philippine business and civic groups on Tuesday called on the Senate to reject House Bill 8389, the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, and urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to veto the measure should it reach Malacañang, saying it would institutionalize political dynasties rather than dismantle them.

In a joint statement, the groups described House Bill 8389 — which was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives on June 3 — as a “pro-dynasty bill.”

“The bill limits its prohibition only to relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, and only within the exact same political unit. This sounds like a restriction. It is not,” the statement read.

“We have all seen a single family hold the governorship, the congressional seat, and the mayoralty of a province simultaneously — while a brother or son sits in the Senate,” it added.

The statements’ signatories include the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), the Makati Business Club (MBC), the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb), and the Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines (SharePHIL).

According to the groups, the proposed measure allows for concurrent family or a single family simultaneously to hold offices in a province while others sit in the national positions.

The groups said the measure also allows unlimited succession or a termed-out handing of positions directly to family members without a waiting period or no end in sight, and position switching or family members swapping seats once their respective terms expire.

The groups also noted that uncovered relatives or family members beyond the second degree do not have any restrictions and are free to accumulate offices across every level of government.

“We strongly reject HB 8389. We call on the Senate to refuse to act on this measure and on the President to veto it should it reach his desk,” the groups said.

The statement was released ahead of the special session of Congress scheduled on Wednesday, June 17, as called for by Marcos to consider the passage of priority legislative measures, including the Anti-Political Dynasty Law.

“This is not reform but protection of dynasties and making sure there are no reforms. Political dynasties crowd out independent candidates, concentrate public resources within family networks, and we have kept whole provinces in poverty across generations, while allegations of rampant corruption remain unabated,” the statement read.

“The evidence is not disputed. What has been lacking is the political will to act on it,” it added.

In the same statement, the groups called for support for the “Dapat Isa Lang” campaign of the People’s Initiative Coalition Against Dynasties (PICAD) seeking for a limit to family members up to the fourth degree to one national and one local position at a time.

“Filipinos should be spared of HB 8389 and, as a nation, should finally rid itself of the affliction of dynasties,” it said. — BAP, GMA News