House panel to consult public on anti-political dynasty bills

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms will conduct public consultations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regarding proposed measures banning political dynasties.

The first public consultation is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, in Cavite.

The committee is also scheduled to conduct public consultations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro next week.

On Tuesday, the panel consulted several experts, including framers of the 1987 Constitution, on how to define political dynasties.

Former Commission on Elections chairperson Atty Christian Monsod and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna differed on the issue of the definition.

"On the degree of relationship, it is submitted that two degrees is best suited to dismantle the grip of political dynasties which are mostly in the provincial level. And two degrees is doable and easier to implement on the part of the Comelec," Azcuna said.

"I am for fourth degree, successive and simultaneous, and I am for its application at the national, local, and espesciallyt at the barangay level," Monsod stated.

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio sided with Azcuna on the degree of relationship.

"Under the Constitution, the President cannot appoint relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree. So it’s recognized by the Constitution, there can be no constitutional issue for that because it’s there in the Constitution," Carpio explained.

"Also it is in statutory law, under the Local Government Code. Local government officials are prohibited from appointing relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree.  So it’s recognized under acts of Congress," he added.

Carpio also bared plans of civil society organizations to mount parallel moves to push for the passage of the Anti Political Dynasty Law.

"The people can turn to the People's Initiative Law. And 1Sambayan and other civil society organizations are planning simultaneous, parallel with this initiative of the House, to adopt a People's Initiative Law. We will also file our own people's initiative proposal on the political dynasty law," Carpio said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News