Bojie Dy files bill to ban political dynasties, contractors from party-list system

Speaker and Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has filed a bill seeking to ban members of political dynasties and contractors from being nominated or serving as a paty-list representatives.

House Bill 9906 proposed to amend the party-list law by disqualifying an individual related to an incumbent member of the Senate or House of Representatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from becoming a party-list solon.

It also sought to ban incumbent elected officials and individuals who were awarded government contracts, concessions, franchises, or public-private partnership agreements in the past five years before an election from being a party-list nominee.

The prohibition also covers officers and controlling shareholders of corporations with government contracts.

HB 9906 also sought to require former elected officials and candidates to observe a cooling-off period of one election cycle before they are allowed to be named as party-list nominees.

The bill’s other authors are members of the Party-List Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI): Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. of TGP Party-list, Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list, Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza of TUCP Party-list, Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list, Rep. Brian Poe of FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list, Rep. JC Abalos of 4Ps Party-list, and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan of 4Ps Party-list.

“Ang party-list system ay nilikha upang palawakin ang representasyon, hindi upang palawakin ang kapangyarihan ng iilang pamilya,” Dy said in a statement.

(The party-list system was created to democratize representation, not to expand the power of a few families.)

“Kung tunay tayong naninindigan para sa isang mas bukas, mas patas, at mas inklusibong demokrasya, dapat nating tiyakin na ang party-list system ay nananatiling tapat sa orihinal nitong layunin na bigyan ng boses at pagkakataong makilahok sa paggawa ng batas ang mga sektor at komunidad na kulang sa representasyon,” he added.

(If we are to stand for an open, fair and inclusive democracy, we should ensure that the party-list system is faithful to its mission of giving a voice and crafting laws for sectors or communities who lack representation.)

The bill also sought to require party-list organizations to certify that they are not directly or indirectly established by political dynasties and are not linked to individuals with beneficial interests in government contracts.

It also proposed to mandate party-list organizations to maintain financial records, submit annual financial reports, and disclose significant contributions.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will have the authority to conduct audit and impose sanctions for noncompliance.

“The reforms are intended to protect the integrity of the party-list system and restore public trust in one of the Constitution’s most important mechanisms for democratic representation,” Dy said. — JMA, GMA News