Group protests against 'fake' anti-political dynasty bill

The Partido Lakas ng Masa conducted a protest action outside the House of Representatives Thursday morning against the current version of the anti-political dynasty bill.

House Bill 8389 was approved on second reading last week. It seeks to prohibit relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running or holding office in the same constituency or jurisdiction.

The protesters called the current version of the bill fake as they push for the passage of a true anti-political dynasty measure.

But Partido Lakas ng Masa chairperson Sonny Melencio said a coalition has been formed to launch a people's initiative for an alternative version of the bill.

"Magbabantay kami sa Senate kaya lang parang walang pag-asa rin doon. Kaya ang aming talagang proyekto, 'yung alternative bill na gagawin through people's initiative signature campaign. Nasa Constitution din yon," he said in an ambush interview.

(We will watch out for the Senate version of the bill but it seems there is no hope there. That's why we are working on an alternative bill through people's initiative signature campaign. That's in the Constitution.)

"Nag-usap-usap na, nabuo na 'yung coalition kasama 'yung mga pari, bishop. Kasama rin 'yung mga former military official, professional. Kasama rin 'yung businessmen, 'yung Makati Business Club," he added.

(Talks have started, we have formed a coalition with priests, bishops. former military officials, businessmen, and the Makati Business Club.)

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula said the bill "more of ini-institutionalize lang talaga 'yung dynasties sa ating bansa ( is more of institutionalizing dynasties in the country)."

"Imagine-in mo na lang, ang nanay nasa Senado; ang tatay, isang gobernador; ang anak, isang mayor. Ina-allow 'yan ng version na ito. So hindi siya anti-political dynasty," Ismula said in an online interview.

(Just imagine, mother is in the Senate, father is a governor, their child is a mayor. The current version of the bill allows that so it is not anti-political dynasty.)

Akbayan Party-list is pushing for the prohibition for relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity. —AOL, GMA News