CBCP: Limit political dynasties to 2 relatives

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February 20, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Only two family members should be allowed to hold elective positions, according to a joint statement by church-based groups yesterday.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and Caritas Philippines issued a joint two-page statement that appealed for the inclusion of certain provisions in the anti-political dynasty bills pending in the two houses of Congress.

The groups asked to “limit a maximum of two relatives per family to hold an elective position: one may hold a local office and one a national position, without overlapping jurisdiction.”

They also suggested that close relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity should not be allowed to simultaneously hold or consecutively occupy elective positions, while preserving the principle of separate local and national representations.

The proposed bills should also be able to eliminate avenues for circumvention such as substitution, rotation or position-swapping, ensuring political opportunities remain open to new leaders.

The group added that these restrictions should also be applicable to party-list representatives in order to close loopholes that might be used by political families to maintain undue influence.

The group noted that the 1987 Constitution clearly mandates the prohibition of political dynasties, but nearly four decades later, this has not been properly implemented.

“It is no longer just a constitutional delay but a slow unmaking of the common good,” the statement read.

Political dynasties, according to them, also distort the meaning of public service because it transforms elective office into a hereditary privilege instead of a mission of responsibility.

The group asked civil society organizations to remain vigilant and for educational institutions to help mold ethically- and critically-minded citizens.

Public pulse

Sen. Risa Hontiveros has described as very productive the series of consultations she is leading across the country to get the public’s pulse on passing a decades-old anti-political dynasty measure.

Speaking to The STAR’s “Truth on the Line” program on Wednesday, Hontiveros said the consultations with local government officials, civic society and youth groups showed her that enacting a sweeping ban on dynasties is not as easy as it looks.

According to her, there are nuances, especially at the local level such as in the barangay, where it could be so small in population that it would be difficult to prevent those related to each other from running in the village polls.

“It apparently is not a one size fits all,” said Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate electoral reforms committee.

The participants also weighed in on whether or not it would be possible to prohibit relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, the extent of the dynasty ban that Hontiveros had stated in her version of the measure, or limit it to just the second degree.

Another contention is if the ban should prohibit relatives from running simultaneously or successively – or even both – as the ideal situation should be, Hontiveros said.

Despite the intricacies, she said she is confident an anti-political dynasty measure has the support of the public based on the consultations done.

Another interesting topic brought up during the consultation is the proposal of a coalition of business and civic society groups for a “people’s initiative” or a nationwide signature drive, to pass the measure should Congress fail to do so due to vested political interests.

Before Lenten break

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms is eyeing to pass the anti-political dynasty bill before the Lenten break this year, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said yesterday.

Congress is scheduled to have its Lenten break on March 21 and return its regular session on May 4. –  Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Jose Rodel Clapano