Sen. Francis Pangilinan (Photo from his Facebook page)
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Thursday said they were open to possible compromise on the proposed anti-political dynasty measures pending before the Senate.
During the hearing of the Senate committees on electoral reforms and people’s participation and constitutional amendments and revision of codes, some of the possibilities raised were to bar political clans only if they opt to run in the same election year.
“Pag-aaralan natin yan,” said Pangilinan, chair of the constitutional amendments committee.
“Isa yan sa posibleng pwede itulak. In fact, galing mismo sa eksperto na naintindihan nila na baka sa halip matulak ang isang anti-dynasty bill ay baka hindi mangyari kaya bukas tayo na ikunsidera rin yung mga political realities,” he added.
Pangilinan said he was also inclined to consider banning a candidate who is at the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected official.
“I’m inclined sa 2nd degree. Naipasa na kasi sa SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) so maaring mas katangga-tanggap yun,” he said.
Under the SK Reform Act of 2015, an SK official “must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected, and must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.”
Pangilinan said their panels would continue to deliberate on the definition of a political dynasty and the scopes and limitations of the proposed measure. /cbb