The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms conducted a hearing and public consultation in Cagayan de Oro City and Cebu City on the proposed Anti-Dynasty Bill on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Electoral Reforms Committee chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, together with Senator Francis (Kiko) Pangilinan, led the session, which was participated by civil society groups, business sector, members of the academe, and other stakeholders.

The consultation aimed to gauge public sentiment on the bill, particularly regarding the definition of familial relationships.

“Isang panukalang sumusunod sa konstitusyon, dinig ang concerns ng iba’t-ibang sector inuuna ang kapakanan ng botante at kayang aktwal na ipatupad,” Hontiveros said.

Pangilinan, a co-author of the bill, also said that there are currently eight versions of the Anti-Dynasty Bill in the Senate, including the one pushed by Senator Loren Legarda.

He added that for nearly 40 years, the Philippines has lacked a law that strictly addresses political dynasties, despite their prohibition under the 1987 Constitution.

“Kung ang prohibition ay up to the 2nd degree pwede regardless whether you are in the Senate or in the House, Lanao Norte or Maguindanao as long as you are related up to the second degree you can be prohibited,” Pangilinan added.

According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) eight out of 10 seats in Congress are held by a politician belonging to a political dynasty.

The number of political dynasties remains high in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Commission on Elections-Northern Mindanao (COMELEC 10) said it is ready to enforce the law once it is enacted.

“If the law passed is ambivalent may ambiguities and prone to loop holes, yan ang mahirap but if the law is iron-clad fool-proof, madali lang ma-implement ng COMELEC. Yan ang assurance ng COMELEC,” COMELEC 10 Director, Atty. Renato Magbutay, said.

“We may not pass a perfect law at first pero para sa akin basta impactful siya na batas hindi siya walang kwenta at compliance lang,” Hontiveros added.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN CEBU CITY

The University of the Philippines (UP) in Cebu City was packed for the public consultation of the House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

The consultation sought to gather the opinion of Cebuanos in the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill. House Speaker Faustino Dy III, in a video message, emphasized the goal of the consultation.

Currently, at least 24 bills with different versions are pushed in the Lower House, and are up for consolidation.

“We can probably strengthen and improve the substitute bill that we will adopt, we need to hear the position of the people so they can feel and see the ownership on the bill,” Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chairperson of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

Other congressmen underscored the significance of the bill:

“Introduce itong bagong qualification bago maging kandidato sa statement of Certificate of Candidacy i-file nga kandidato na hindi sila myembro ng political dynasty as provided by law,” Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co said.

“It’s almost 40 years since the constitution has explicitly commanded enactment of Anti-Dynasty Bill, may pag-asa ngayon kasi the House leadership is prioritizing it, the President has included it in the list of priority bills,” said Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal Partylist.

“Napakahalaga nitong hakbang we believe that we will break the dynamic system, we break the engine of corruption,” Gabriela Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago said.

All speakers in the event expressed their support to pad relatives from running for elective positions.

However, verification would be a challenge, such as checking the degree of consangunity (blood relations) to stop second- or fourth-degree relatives if there are already relatives in politics.

“Academic scholars have highlighted the link between political dynasties and poor governance, poverty and corruption and development when political decisions are treated as inherited,” according to Professor Grace Magalzo-Bualat of the University of San Carlos (USC) Department of Political Science.

“If a person is in a position for three (3) terms, allow a space between the next relative, allow for a space so there will be no continuity,” a certain Juan dela Cruz said.

A few Cebuano political leaders also attended the public consultation.

“There has not been more than one del Mar that ran in the same elections, that we made sure of. Many times my dad was offered to run for mayor, and the daughter for Congress, he said 'we do not want to be selfish,'” said Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Marguerite (Cutie) del Mar.

“I’m in favor of the Anti-Dynasty Bill. I’d like to thank the Cebuanos for having given me the opportunity to serve them, let’s give others a chance,” Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.

According to Adiong, as the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill is a priority bill, they target to pass the law prior to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in July 2026.

After the event, UP students staged a picket rally around the university, calling the passage of the bill and condemning massive corruption in the country.

Co joined the picket rally. 

(via James Paolo Yap/One Mindanao and Nikko Sereno/Balitang Bisdak)