Casiño lauds bishops’ support for call to end political dynasties

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Wednesday lauded the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for backing a measure which sought to put an end to political dynasties.

Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Teddy Casiño said that the Church’s support was “a burst of inspiration in the long and arduous road of political reform.”

The CBCP has earlier pledged its support for a people’s initiative seeking an end to political dynasties.

Casiño said that House Bill 3413 titled “An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties’’ was still pending at the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms.

The measure seeks to prohibit an incumbent official’s spouse or relative of up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity from pursuing a public office in the same province or city.

He said that there was no time left to see its passage in the 15th Congress and instead appealed to the “CBCP and the faithful to show its resolve by supporting candidates who embody their yearning for genuine change and political reform.”

“With the 15th Congress coming to a close, it is in this year’s elections that such a clamor for change should be realized,” said Casiño who said he would support a people’s initiative to see to the bill’s passage.