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Ex-CJ Puno: Anti-dynasty provision in proposed Charter ‘beyond compromise’


For retired Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno, the Consultative Committee's (Con-com) proposed provision against political dynasties in a draft federal Constitution is one "beyond compromise."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Puno, chair of the Con-com, said the recommended anti-dynasty provision is a "fundamental predicate" of the draft Charter the committee submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

He made the remark when asked if he was concerned that the anti-political dynasty provision in the Con-com draft would be dropped by Congress, the same way the bicameral conference committee removed a similar rule in the final version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"Personally, to me that is one provision that will be beyond compromise," Puno said.

He warned of a dire outcome if political dynasties would be given the "near-sovereign powers" that would be granted to the federated regions, the constituent units in an imagined federal republic.

"As I said, the anti-dynasty provision is a fundamental predicate of our draft Constitution. We will be giving a lot of powers, near powers of sovereignty, to the different regions. So the implication is that you cannot give this near-sovereign powers to political dynasties, otherwise our government will be [in] the worst situation," he said.

The Con-com's proposal has the federal republic guaranteeing a prohibition on political dynasties to prevent the concentration of political power among persons related to one another.

It bans persons related to an incumbent elective official within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for the same position in the immediately following election.

It also prohibits persons related within the same civil degree from running simultaneously for more than one  national and one regional or local position. In case of two or more family members running, the drawing of lots would determine who would be allowed to run.

While already approved by Duterte, these recommendations would still have to go through and be approved by Congress before being subject to a plebiscite, along with other constitutional amendments that might earn the legislature's nod.

Asked if he would withdraw his support for the proposed Constitution should Congress decide to do away with the anti-dynasty provision, Puno said: "Let the public decide." — BM, GMA News

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