Senate panel eyes passing anti-political dynasty bill before March ends

Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday that the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms is planning to pass the bill seeking to prohibit political dynasties before March ends. 

“It will be passed. Intensyon namin maipasa ito this session so bago matapos ang buwan ng Marso,” Hontiveros said during a joint committee meeting.

(It will be passed. It is our intention to pass it this session, so before March ends.)

Hontiveros, who chairs the electoral reforms panel, said she wants the anti-political dynasty law to cover up to the 4th degree of consanguinity.

“Para sa akin ‘yun ang dapat, ‘yun ang ideal. Bilang isa sa mga authors sa Senate, ‘yun ang ipu-push ko. At the same time… I'm working with six bills na iba-iba ang prescription. Fourth degree, third degree, second degree,” she said.

(For me, that is what should be done, that is the ideal. As one of the authors in the Senate, that is what I will push. At the same time… I’m working on six bills with different prescriptions: fourth degree, third degree, second degree.)

She said they will undergo a consensus building to reach a compromise.

“Ang sa akin lang, whatever will be our final form, ‘yung tingin kong dapat or ideal na 4th degree or maaring sa mas marami sa colleagues ko, mas practical or mas reasonable at this point in time, 3rd degree or 2nd degree, basta ang importante sa akin, magkaroon kami ng batas na impactful, may kwenta,” she said.

(For me, whatever will be our final form, what I think should be the ideal—4th degree—or for many of my colleagues, maybe more practical or more reasonable at this point in time, 3rd degree or 2nd degree, what’s important to me is that we have a law that is impactful and meaningful.)

Hontiveros also said that the damage brought by a dynasty is known to the public.

“Kung saan nangingibabaw ang konsentrasyon ng kapangyarihan sa ilang pamilya, madalas matatagpuan rin ang korapsyon, kahirapan, at kakulangan ng pananagutan o accountability,” she said.

(Where the concentration of power in a few families prevails, corruption, poverty, and a lack of accountability are often also found.)

“Sa halip ng serbisyong publiko sa ordinaryong Pilipino, personal na interes at pakinabang ang madalas na nagiging sentro. Nandito tayo ngayon para baguhin ito,” she added.

(Instead of public service for ordinary Filipinos, personal interest and gain often become the focus. We are here now to change this.)

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said he is in favor of starting the discussion and coming up with a clear framework on the prohibition of dynasties.

There are currently six bills on political dynasties filed in the Senate. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News