Anti-political dynasty bill reaches plenary

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-political dynasty bill was finally sponsored in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, advancing to second reading in the chamber long dominated by members of political clans.

It was the first time the controversial bill was tackled on the floor since being included in the plenary’s agenda on Jan. 20.

Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro, who chairs the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, made the sponsorship address Tuesday evening.

Castro said a law should be passed that would implement the constitutional ban on political dynasties.

House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

“The proposed anti-political dynasty law is being presented to this chamber … to provide equal access of opportunities for public service for everybody, regardless of status in life… to equal access to opportunity for public service,” he told the chamber in the floor.

The anti-political dynasty bill or House Bill 3587 prohibits the spouse, or any persons related within a second degree of consanguinity to a re-electionist politician, to run for a position in the same elections.

Castro said political dynasties “were responsible for the many ills experienced and will continue to experience by the Filipinos if left unabated or unregulated.”

Castro said the previous anti-political dynasty bills were stalled at the committee level, eventually being archived and failing to reach the plenary.

“It has become a permanent scrap of paper in the congressional archive, and worse, there are times, observers say, that the bill against political dynasties, once filed, is relegated to its eternal repose,” he said.

“If you want history to judge you and your forebears with kindness and honor, then do the right thing – pass into law the anti-political dynasty bill,” Castro said.

According to the bill, a political dynasty “exists when two or more individuals who are related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity hold or run for national or local office in successive, simultaneous or overlapping terms.”

The Commission on Elections is tasked to disqualify from running those who violate the proposed measure.

Should none of the members of the same family running in the same election decide to withdraw from the race, the Comelec will hold a raffle to determine which of them would be allowed to run.

The bill also seeks to ensure that elective posts would not be passed on to a member of the same family. It states that no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to the incumbent will be allowed to immediately succeed to the position of the latter.

After the sponsorship speeches, the plenary is expected to open the bill for debates and amendments.

RELATED STORIES

 Anti-dynasty bill stalls in House

 Anti-political dynasty bill up for sponsorship soon – Gonzales