SC urged to direct Congress to enact law vs. political dynasties

Several groups and individuals on Monday filed a petition asking the Supreme Court (SC) to direct Congress to enact a law against political dynasties.

The petitioners —1Sambayan, Sanlakas, members of ADvocates for National Interest, and other individuals —also asked the SC for Congress to be held in contempt should they fail to comply with the SC’s decision within a year after it was granted.

In a 48-page petition for certiorari and mandamus, the petitioners asked the SC to compel Congress to comply with Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution by enacting a law prohibiting political dynasties and giving it a definition.

Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution provides that “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” 

“This provision, in no uncertain terms, explicitly mandates the State to prohibit political dynasties,” said in their petition. 

“The phrase ‘as may be defined by law’ does not weaken this command; rather, it underscores Congress’ obligation to enact legislation that defines and establishes the parameters for effectively enforcing the prohibition,” they added.

They stressed that the government has yet to enact an anti-political dynasty law even though nearly four decades have passed since the ratification of the Constitution.

“The political dynasties, which have lorded over Congress prior to the 1986 EDSA Revolution and even now, long after the passage of the new Constitution in February 1987, have effectively repealed and killed Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution through their sheer shameful official inaction,” they said.

“We now have a government filled with elective officials whose primary qualifications are neither their character nor competence, but rather their luck in the genetic lottery,” they added.

The respondents are the Senate of the Philippines, as represented by Senate President Chiz Escudero, and the House of Representatives, as represented by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.—LDF, GMA Integrated News