House to hear proposed anti-dynasty bills on Tuesday, January 27

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms will hear the proposed anti-political dynasty bills on Tuesday, January 27, the panel’s chairperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said Monday.

Adiong, in a statement, said at least 19 anti-political dynasty bills will be discussed including that of:

• Party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers and Renee Louise Co of Kabataan (HB No. 209)
• Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon (HB No. 381)
• Rep. Marguerite del Mar of Cebu (HB No. 874)
• Rep. Bernadette Barbers of Surigao del Norte (HB No. 909)
• Rep. Mark Anthony G. Santos of Las Piñas City (HB No. 1297)
• Rep. Edgar Erice of Caloocan City  (HB No. 2037)
• Rep. Leila De Lima of ML party-list (HB No. 2131)
• Rep. Sarah Jane Elago of Gabriela (HB No. 4784)
• Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez of 1-Rider party-list (HB No. 5334)
• Rep. Roman T. Romulo of Pasig (HB No. 5871)
• Reps. Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, Percival Cendaña, Jose Manuel Tadeo “Chel” I. Diokno, and Dadah Kiram Ismula of Akbayan (HB No. 5905)
• Rep. Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City (HB No. 6064)
• Reps. Faustino Dy III of Isabela and Ferdinand Alexander Marcos of Ilocos Norte (HB No. 6771)
• Rep. Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro (HB No. 6799)
• Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda of Albay (HB No. 6826)
• Rep. Brian Poe of FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list(HB No. 6886)
• Rep. Edsel Galeos of Cebu (HB No. 6888)
• Reps. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga and Arthur Yap of Murang Kuryente party-list (HB No. 6894)
• Rep. Christopherson “Coco” Yap  of Southern Leyte (HB No. 6925)

The 19 bills, however, do not include the proposed measure filed by Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo during the session break. As such, Quimbo’s proposal would still need to be placed under the Order of Business and referred to Adiong’s committee.

“As Chairperson, I am fully committed to ensuring that the committee’s deliberations produce a version of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill that is effective, legally sound, and constitutionally compliant,” Adiong said.

Among the invited resource persons are: 

• Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno – Chair, Philippine Constitution Association
• Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice Artemio Panganiban
• Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
• Former Supreme Court Associate Justice  Adolfo Azcuña
• Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia
• lawyer Joseph Manolo Rebano, President of  the Philippine Bar Association
• lawyer Allan Panolong – President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines
• Commissioner Christian Monsod, 1986 Constitutional Commission and
• Commissioner Wilfrido Villacorta, 1986 Constitutional Commission

“These [invitations are meant] to ensure the deliberations are comprehensive, inclusive, and grounded in legal and constitutional expertise,” Adiong said.

“We will harness the collective wisdom of our distinguished resource persons to craft a measure that genuinely promotes equitable political participation, upholds meritocracy, and strengthens Philippine democracy,” he added.

Article 2, Section 26 of the Philippine Constitution provides that “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

To this day, there is no law defining what a political dynasty is.

TIMELINE: Anti-political dynasty bill: Ever present and absent at the same time

—AOL, GMA Integrated News