Thirty-one business groups and civil society organizations have called for a genuine law against political dynasties, with tougher safeguards to fight corruption, saying that House Bill 6771 filed by Speaker Faustino Dy III and Presidential son, Representative Sandro Marcos, falls short of expectations.
“In reality, HB 6771 is a pro-dynasty measure,” the group said in a joint statement, noting that the proposed legislation permits succession, switching, substitution, and rotation among relatives, in effect allowing the preservation of monopoly over political power.
“Their influence extends far beyond government: many dynasties also dominate local economies through franchises, personal business, and the favored granting of permits, tightening their grip on both political and economic life,” the groups added.
For the country to have a truly effective Anti-Political Dynasty Law, the groups said the proposed legislation should include clear and enforceable provisions.
Their proposed provisions include prohibiting relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running simultaneously or consecutively holding elective office to uphold the “one local, one national” representation principle.
If no relative is serving or seeking office at the national level, the groups said up to two relatives may hold or seek local elective positions, as long as there is no overlap in their respective jurisdictions.
They also cited the need to explicitly prohibit substitution, rotation, and position switching, which might be resorted to by some politicians to circumvent term limits.
In addition, they demanded for a mandatory cooling-off period equivalent to one full electoral cycle for both term-limited officials and their relatives to prevent them from immediately seeking the same position in successive elections.
Should Congress fail to approve a genuine Anti-Dynasty Law, the groups urged the public to exercise its constitutional right to enact legislation through a People’s Initiative.
The groups emphasized that the battle against political dynasties is also a fight against corruption.
Will our legislators, who ironically mostly come from political dynasties themselves, heed the call of their unrelated constituents, and pass a genuine anti-dynasty law that could limit the perpetuation of power among themselves? Will they prioritize the common good and a better future over their own selfish interests?
Can the public pressure them to do the right thing? Only time will tell.*
