Anti-dynasty bill sponsored in House plenary for 2nd time in almost 40 years

The anti-political dynasty bill passed by the House Committee on Suffrage and Political Reform has reached the plenary of the House of Representatives, marking only the second time the constitutionally mandated measure was sponsored on the floor since 1987, or in almost 40 years.

House Bill 8389 or the Act Prohibiting Political Dynasties in National and Local Elective Offices, sponsored by Lanao Del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, seeks to ban relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or occupying public office at the same time within the same area of jurisdiction.

An individual's relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity include his or her parents, child, brother, sister, grandparents, and grandchild. On the other hand, an individual's relatives up to the second degree of affinity include his or her spouse, parents-in-law, children-in-law, grandparents-in-law, and granchildren-in-law.

“Our task is not simply to write the most restrictive definition possible. Our responsibility is to craft a definition that is constitutional, workable, and capable of withstanding scrutiny here in plenary session and in the courts. This bill is designed with precisely that objective," Adiong said in his sponsporship speech.

"It uses the limited authority granted to Congress by the Constitution to define political dynasties in a manner that enables their prohibition, while remaining fully consistent with the other rights and principles enshrined in our fundamental law,” he added.

Critics of the version passed by the House committee said that it still allowed close relatives to run for and occupy public office at the same time, as long as they did so in different localities.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the measure would allow five close relatives to run for seats in the House as along as they would do so in five different congressional districts; or have ten mayors in a family running ten different cities.

"This is not what is in the Constitution. They do not want to limit family members in public office. From a fat dynasty, now we have an obese one," Erice said.

Adiong said the House committee conducted consultations outside Congress in coming up with measure it approved.

"We held three national public consultations across the country. Some called for stricter prohibitions, while others opposed the measure outright. Others raised legitimate constitutional concerns," Adiong said.

"That is why this measure is grounded and pragmatic. It seeks to advance the constitutional directive to prohibit political dynasties while preserving the democratic foundations upon which our Republic stands,” he added.

Article 2, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties “as may be defined by law.”

Adiong said that House Bill 8389 translated a constitutional aspiration into a practical and legally sound framework.

He said that based on League of Municipalities survey on 1,493 municipalities, 917 mayors in the country or 61% currently serve in jurisdictions where they have immediate or extended family members with a history of elective office, and that only 39% come from non-dynastic backgrounds.

“This bill represents a careful and deliberate step toward fulfilling that mandate. For these reasons, I respectfully ask for the support of this august chamber,” Adiong said.

An anti-political dynasty bill was last sponsored in the House plenary in May 2014 by then Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro under House Bill 3587.  

House Bill 3587 also bans political families up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or occupying public office simultaneously, but without the qualifier "within the same area of jurisdiction" provided under the 2026 measure. –NB, GMA Integrated News