Hontiveros: Anti-political dynasty bill does not cover cronies

The proposed measure seeking to prohibit political dynasties in the country does not include banning friends or allies of political families from running for office, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday. 

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, said this in Marilao, Bulacan where the panel held its fourth consultative meeting for the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act. 

“Hindi po sakop ng kontra dinastiya bills ‘yung mga cronies dahil…hindi naman sila ‘yung tumatakbo at nanunungkulan,” she said when asked by a representative of volunteer network Angat Bataan Damayan about the cronies of political clans and dynasties. 

(The cronies are not covered in the anti-dynasty bills because they are not the ones running and holding office.) 

Hontiveros recalled that in a previous consultation, the possibility of political families having “dummies” run for office on their behalf was also floated. 

“Pero hindi pa po sakop ‘yan ng panukalang batas,” she said. 

(But that is not yet covered by the bill.) 

The senator, however, assured that the committee secretariat and her legislative team are consolidating the rich points that were raised during the consultative meetings.

"Excited po kami to craft a committee report na pagsasama-samahin lahat itong mga inputs sa consultations at siyempre sa mga pagdinig, for the consideration of the committee members," Hontiveros said in an ambush interview.

(We’re excited to craft a committee report that will include all these inputs from the consultations and hearings, for the consideration of the committee members.) 

Aside from Marilao, Bulacan, the Senate electoral reforms committee has held consultative meetings in Pasig City; Calamba, Laguna; and Bacolod. It is also scheduled to conduct the next leg in Cagayan de Oro this week.

Several measures have been filed both in the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking to implement the 1987 Constitution’s provision mandating the prohibition of political dynasties. At the Senate, six anti-dynasty bills are pending before the electoral reforms committee.

With the anti-dynasty bill being tagged as a priority measure of the Marcos administration, Hontiveros said that the Senate is eyeing to pass its version before the end of March.

The Senate is set to suspend its session from March 21 until May 3. It will resume its session on May 4, 2026.

On Monday, Hontiveros said that she already communicated her plans to Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Adiong, who chairs the House suffrage and electoral panel. 

“Hindi ko alam kung ano naman ang timetable ng House. Pero siyempre ang best case scenario ko, dahil sila rin ay nagdadaos din ng mga pandinig at konsultasyon tulad nito sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas, kung sabay kaming matapos ng aming versions at makapag-bicameral conference committee hearings, best case scenario, maipasa namin ang batas by next month para ipadala na sa Malacañang kung kanilang pipirmahan,” the senator said. 

(I don't know what the House's timetable is because they are also conducting their own hearings and consultations around the country. But if we get to finish our versions at the same time and hold a bicameral conference committee hearing, the best case scenario is that we pass this measure by next month and send it to Malacañang for signature.)  —KG, GMA Integrated News