Minority solons file another anti-political dynasty bill

Members of the independent reform bloc in the House of Representatives have filed an anti-political dynasty bill that sought to ban relatives of incumbent officials up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and their common-law partners from running for public office.

Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao and Akbayan party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña and Dadah Ismula filed House Bill 5905 on Wednesday, a day after Speaker Faustino “Boyet” Dy III of Isabela expressed support for an anti-political dynasty measure.

Under HB 5905, no person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent elective official shall be allowed to hold or run for any elective office, whether national or local, unless the incumbent elective official is ending his term of office within the same election year. 

A fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity is up to great-great grandparent or great grandparent-in-law.

The bill also stated that in all cases, no person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent elective official will immediately succeed to the office of the latter; provided that this prohibition on succession will not apply to members of the Sangguniang Barangay.

It also sought to prohibit instances of persons running for public office who are related by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth degree, where the election of two or more will result in a political dynasty relationship.

In such cases, the certificate of candidacy that was first filed will be the one considered valid.

“Bawal po ang asawa, bawal po ang kamag-anak up to fourth degree [of consanguinity]. Kapag gusto mong tumakbo tapos may incumbent na kamag-anak, hindi po pwede. Pangalawa, kapag gusto niyo [na magkamag-anak na] tumakbo [ng] sabay, hindi rin po pwede. Or kapag ikaw ay mag-sa-suc-ceed sa isang posisyon na kamag-anak mo o meron kang kamag-anak na nakaupo pa hindi rin po pwede,” Bag-ao said in an interview.

(Spouses are not allowed, relatives up to the fourth degree are not allowed. If you want to run and you have an incumbent relative in office, that is not allowed. If you and your relatives want to run at the same time, that’s not allowed. Or if you will succeed the position of a relative or you have a relative who is still incumbent, that is not allowed.)

“Kasama [rin] po rito ang lahat ng klase ng spouses, kahit po ‘yung hindi legally married pero sa harap ng publiko, sila ay may relasyon o sila ay mag-asawa, pinagbabawal rin po ng batas na ito. Napakarami at napakalawak na po ng political dynasty sa Pilipinas, at ito po ay nagiging dahilan ng paglilimita lang ng kapangyarihan at pagtatanggal ng kapasidad sa partisipasyon ng mga mamamayan makilahok sa eleksyon at maging leader. Umaasa po tayo na maipasa ito bago po magpasko,” Bag-ao added.

(This also covers all spouses, even those who are not literally married but are considered to be common-law partners by the public. There are many political dynasties in the Philippines and this is the cause of the limited powers, capacity, and participation of our people who want to join elections and be a leader. We are hoping that this will be passed into law before Christmas.)

Amid public outrage over the public funds wasted and lost over anomalous flood control projects, the lawmakers stressed that the time is ripe for the passage of the anti-political dynasty measure. 

“Given the public outrage over corruption of public resources and concentration of political power among the few, this is a huge step in changing our political system. This is not the only way to change it, of course, but this is a very important step to stop this inheritance of political power,” Bag-ao said.

“Kailangan na kailangan natin ito, hindi lang dahil ilan lang ang may hawak ng kapangyarihan, kundi para maging maunlad, maayos at progresibo ang Pilipinas,” Diokno added.

(We badly need this, not just because power is in the hands of a few, but to help the Philippines on the way to development, order and progress.)

The 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties “as provided for by law.” However, no law prohibiting political dynasties was passed since the Constitution took effect.

In July, the Makabayan bloc also filed their version of an anti-dynasty bill. — JMA, GMA Integrated News