What's a political dynasty? Sotto says definition to make law easier to pass

The definition of what constitutes a political dynasty is important for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said on Tuesday, adding that an anti-dynasty measure would be easier to pass once it is defined.

Sotto made the remark after a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., in which congressional leaders discussed measures that the executive wants passed.

Malacañang said Marcos wanted Congress to prioritize the passage of an anti-dynasty law, the creation of an Independent People's Commission,  a Party-list System Reform Act and the proposed Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA).

"Pag-uusapan namin nang mabuti. Ang importante kanina sabi ng Presidente, i-define muna natin kung ano ang political dynasty," Sotto said.

(We are going to dicuss it carefully. What's important is the President asked us to first define political dynasty.)

"Kapag i-define natin yan, madali na ang batas," he added.

(After defining it, then we can legislate a law.)

Sotto said the proposed IPC may be discussed in the Senate before the Christmas break and passed by January next year.

"Gusto nya. In fact, may mga suggestions sya and were going to incorporate it," Sotto told reporters in an ambush interview.

(He wants to pass it. In fact, he made suggestions and we're going to incorporate it.)

"Hopefully, maisingit namin before Christmas break and then perhaps, mapasa by January," he said.

(We will fast tract it. Hopefully, we can discuss it before Christmas break and pass it by January.)

Two Senate bills proposing the creation of the IPC aim to establish a permanent, independent, and non-partisan commission that would investigate alleged anomalies and corruption in infrastructure projects at the national, local government unit (LGU), and government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) levels.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier said the proposed IPC could overlap with the functions of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, as it would also look into infrastructure-related corruption.

"We welcome President Marcos' move to prioritize the passage of our proposed CADENA Act,"  Senator Bam Aquino said in a press statement.

"Magttrabaho tayo upang maisabatas ang CADENA Act para matuldukan ang katiwalian sa pamahalaan at matiyak na nagagamit sa tama ang buwis ng taumbayan," he added.

(We will work hard to pass the CADENA Act into law and curb corruption.) –NB, GMA Integrated News