PNoy urged to declare anti-political dynasty bill as urgent

(Updated 4:14 p.m.) Calling a law against political dynasty “long overdue,” a lawmaker on Tuesday wrote President Benigno Aquino III a letter asking him to certify an anti-political dynasty bill as urgent to allow Congress to pass it with haste.

“It is the constitutional duty of the Congress to enact a law defining and prohibiting the establishment of political dynasties in accordance with the intent of Section 26, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution,” said Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, the bill’s author, in his letter to Aquino.

A bill that has been certified urgent by the President bypasses the three-day rule between readings in the legislature, effectively fast-tracking it.

“While several bills of similar import had been filed in the past, these were never acted upon during the previous Congress through the manipulation of unscrupulous politicians,” Erice said.

At a press conference in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said he will have to take up the matter with the President.

“Aalamin ko po kung ano o kailan ang kanyang sulat at aalamin ko rin kung ano ang naging katugunan doon,” he said.

In November last year, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reform passed the consolidated bill that seeks to limit the political power exerted by political families.

The committee unanimously voted to approve the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2013, which seeks to prohibit relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for both national and local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms.

It was the first time the measure hurdled the vote in the committee level.

Erice authored House Bill No. 3587, or An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties, with  Representatives Oscar Rodriguez of Pampanga, Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela, Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, Antonio Hicap of Anakpawis, and Terry Ridon of Kabataan.

Under the measure, no spouse or person related within the second civil degree of consanguinity, or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection, shall be allowed to hold or run for any local or national elective office in the same elections.

The measure also covers illegitimate and half-blood relatives. — Patricia Denise Chiu and Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News