Gatchalian doubts anti-political dynasty bill’s passage at House

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said the proposed anti-political dynasty law may already be dead because it has a slim chance of passing in the House of Representatives.

"Tandaan bicameral tayo at kahit na pumasa ito sa Senado, 'pag ito ay 'di pumasa sa lower house, wala din mangyayari," Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB adding that almost 70 percent of the total number of members of the House of Representatives are members of political dynasties.

"Bakit sila boboto ng isang batas na disadvantageous o magwa-wipe out sa kanila at the local level?" he said.

Gatchalian and 12 other senators signed Committee Report No. 367, pushing for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law.

The proposed law seeks the prohibition of immediate and extended relatives from running for public office to succeed or replace or simultaneously seek a post as an incumbent relative in the same area, among others.

The proposed measure was inked by Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Ralph Recto, Leila de Lima, Francis Pangilinan and Gatchalian.

The bill limits the prohibition to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. This covers spouses (legal and common-law), siblings (full or half-blood), parents, children (legitimate, illegitimate, and adopted) and the children's spouses.

It also prohibits an incumbent national elective official, including a party-list representative, to have these same set of relatives run for any position in the national and local levels, including as barangay captain, mayor, governor, or district representative in any part of the country. The vice versa also applies.

Gatchalian said the mechanism of checks and balances would not function if the Philippine government will continue to be ruled by political dynasties.

"Kung titingnan ho natin ang mekanismo para magkaroon ng check and balance sa mga local government, ang Sanggunian, ito 'yung nagaapprove ng budget at ang mayor ang nagpro-propose ng budget. Ito 'yung mekanismo para 'di maabuso ang kaban ng bayan, pero nakita ko laganap ang political dynasty sa iba't ibang lugar ng ating bansa," the senator said.

"'Yung check and balance na tinatawag natin, 'yung pagbabalanse ng kapangyarihan sa lokal na pamahalaan ay unti-unting nawawala at humihina. Kung ganito ang mangyayari, ang magiging dehado dito ay ang taong-bayan. 'Yung kaban ng lokal ay di masusuring mabuti," Gatchalian added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ALG, GMA News