House suffrage panel says anti-dynasty bill ‘progressive’ step forward
MANILA, Philippines — “This is progressive. This is one step forward.”
This according to House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chair and Lanao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who on Tuesday stressed that the Anti-Political Dynasty substitute bill approved by the Committee marks the first concrete implementation of the Constitution’s mandate nearly four decades after it was written.
Adiong pointed out that the country currently has no enabling law defining and prohibiting political dynasties.
“In the first place, we do not have an anti-political dynasty as of yet being implemented in this country,” he said.
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“What we can assure you that this version, we tried to decongest political unit from a culture of one political family. There should be no concentration of power in one LGU.”
The substitute measure, adopted after a series of public consultations and committee hearings nationwide, bars political dynasties within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously holding elective positions within the same political unit.
According to Adiong, the bill directly addresses the core problem: the concentration of power that weakens democratic checks and balances.
“Concentration of power because it weakens the very foundation of democracy, which is checks and balances. So, we try to address that,” he explained.
At the same time, he clarified that the proposal does not impose a blanket prohibition on relatives participating in elections in separate localities.
“We cannot prevent altogether those who want the chance to participate in other localities,” Adiong added, emphasizing that running for office does not automatically translate to victory.
“Running does not necessarily mean winning. What we are trying to address is the concentration of powers. It has to be eradicated.”
Committee member and Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores echoed Adiong’s position, pointing out that the current legal framework has no formal definition of political dynasty.
“Our basis now is zero definition of what political dynasty is,” Flores said.
“In one political unit, pwedeng mayor, vice mayor, and councilors are all occupied by persons coming from the same family as of now. But with the bill passed only one position can occupy that particular political unit,” said the lawyer.
He described the measure as a major shift from the status quo.
“It’s a big leap forward because before in one political unit, unli members of the same family. Now just one, in the versions we’re working with,” Flores said.
Responding to calls from some sectors for a broader fourth-degree ban, Adiong maintained that the approved version remains a meaningful and realistic reform.
“There’s already a very clear policy that there will be an anti-political dynasty measure in this country,” he said. “There’s no actual policy right now covering power concentration within a locality.”
The substitute bill is expected to be sponsored on the plenary floor before the Lenten break, where it will undergo debate and possible amendments.
