Joint Senate panel OKs measure outlawing political dynasties in PH

A joint Senate committee has approved a proposed measure that would bar political dynasties in elective positions nationwide.

A total of 13 legislators endorsed on Wednesday evening Senate Bill No. 1765, the consolidated bill against political dynasties, which seeks to prohibit immediate and extended relatives from running for public office to succeed or replace a relative, or simultaneously serve with a relative in the same political jurisdiction.

Those who passed SB 1765 were Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Grace Poe, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Ralph Recto, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, Leila de Lima, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

SBN 1765 limits the prohibition up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity.

This covers legal and common-law spouses, siblings, parents, and children (legitimate, illegitimate, and adopted), and the spouses of their second-degree relatives.

The proposed law also prohibits an incumbent national elective official, including party-list representatives, to have these same set of relatives run for any position in the national and local levels, including as barangay captain, mayor, governor, or district representative in any part of the country.

Pangilinan and De Lima conducted one hearing each on political dynasties and drafted the report.

Pangilinan is chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, while De Lima is chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation.

On Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte thinks that an anti-political dynasty bill is “anti-democratic” because the people should be the one to decide whom to vote for in office.

Duterte’s daughter, Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, is the mayor of Davao City and his son, Paolo, was the city’s former vice mayor.     Jhoanna Ballaran, INQUIRER.net   /kga