People’s initiative can push anti-dynasty bill passage, says lawyer

Caritas Philippines President Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo during the official launch of the coalition Alyansa ng Nagkakakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM). Screengrab from ANIM Facebook page video

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos who clamor to eradicate political dynasties in the country have the power to pass a law on it in the Congress, a lawmaker said on Friday.

During the press conference for the official launch of the coalition Alyansa ng Nagkakakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM), Atty. Alexander Lacson shared that people’s initiative is among the possible approaches to fight political dynasties.

“The people’s initiative is like a door na hindi nabubuksan. It’s a power of the people na hindi pa natin nagagamit but it’s there,” Lacson said.

ANIM, a coalition composed of religious sectors, business professionals, military and uniformed personnel, youth, women, and civil society organizations, is formed to tackle the issues of electoral fraud, political dynasty, and corruption in the country.

READ: Coalition ANIM forms to tackle electoral fraud, corruption, dynasties

Despite political dynasty being prohibited in the 1987 Constitution, there is still no anti-political dynasty bill enacted into law despite numerous calls and clamor to pass it.

Section 32 under Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “[the] Congress shall, as early as possible, provide for a system of initiative and referendum, and the exceptions therefrom, whereby the people can directly propose and enact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereof passed by the Congress or local legislative body after the registration of a petition therefore signed by at least ten per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters thereof.

Lacson noted that it is a type of people’s initiative where it requires a minimum of 3 percent voting forces in the congressional district and 10 percent of voting forces nationwide.

“Ang requirement is minimum of 3 percent per Congressional district. Ilagay po natin na 250,000 po ‘yong botante on an average per Congressional district. Ano po ‘yong 3 percent nyan? That’s 7,500 votes… Minimum kasi ‘yon, what we need is 10 percent. ‘Pag nag 10 percent, that’s 25,000 signatures in the petition,” he added.

(The requirement is a minimum of 3 percent per Congressional district. Let’s say that there is an average of 250,000 voters per Congressional district. What is the 3 percent of it? That’s 7,500 votes… That is the minimum, what we need is 10 percent. If it’s 10 percent, that’s 25,000 signatures in the petition.)

The lawyer also cited an example that to achieve the required amount of signatures, three or five barangays with a big population can suffice without going to municipalities in the district.

He shared that there are ground forces ready to extend their helping hands in fulfilling the goal to pass the anti-dynasty bill.

“We have the ground forces to do this. You have the churches, you have the main organizations, you have the retired military officers in every province… You have the lawyers in every city, practically every district… Pwede po nating i-tap yung defeated Congressional candidates… May network na po sila, may tao na po sila on the ground (We can tap defeated Congressional candidates… They have networks and they have people on the ground), he said.

Backed by churches

The discussion on ways to pass an anti-dynasty bill started when Bishop Colin Bagaforo, the president of Caritas Philippines or the social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) revealed that “ANIM will take a bold action in spearheading a people’s initiative to enact an anti-dynasty law.”

Bishop Bagaforo in a speech on Friday expressed that “CBCP Philippines stands in solidarity with ANIM… and the call for an end to the pervasive corruption and political dynasties that have long break our beloved country.”

According to Bishop Bagaforo, aside from dismantling political dynasties in the country, this will also be crucial in eradicating poverty and injustices among Filipinos.

Further, when asked when the people’s initiative will start, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza answered that they will start it as soon as possible.

He also said that he is very optimistic of the initiative, emphasizing the importance of acting on it as soon as possible.

“Why don’t we start something now? Even if we fail again and again, let’s keep starting all over again. Ang opposite noon, is something that we cannot accept… ito, good sign na to sana. I hope it will multiply. Kasi kung pasok tayo dun sa nega na di natin kaya, anong kalabasan no’n, said Alminaza.

(Why don’t we start something now? Even if we fail again and again, let’s keep starting all over again. Its opposite is something that we cannot accept… I hope this is a good sign. I hope it will multiply. Because if we let the negativities in, what would be its outcome?)

When asked if this initiative would be voluntary, Bishop Alminaza said that it should be “faith-based” for Catholics.

Getting it done

As the 2025 midterm elections are nearing, the concern of time was raised in assessing the steps to do to pass the bill in time of the elections.

“There is nothing wrong in doing these things simultaneously,” Lacson answered.

READ: SC urged: Prod Congress to pass antidynasty law

“We will have a team to appeal to good senses of the senators. We also have a team to do the other things but we will give ground force to do these initiatives. We have to look at it long term,” he added.

Lacson also shared that they will still continue the initiative even after the 2025 elections.