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Jose Rodel Clapano - The Philippine Star
March 4, 2026 | 12:00am
Facade of the House of Representatives at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
The STAR / Michael Varcas, File photo
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives committee on suffrage and electoral reforms approved yesterday an anti-political dynasty bill, which is chiefly the version introduced by Speaker Faustino Dy III and Majority Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.
House Bill 6671 passed the scrutiny of the House panel chaired by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong.
HB 6671 bans political dynasties within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. But it still allows relatives to occupy multiple posts simultaneously under different clusters or in different localities.
The House’s progressive Makabayan bloc withdrew its support for the “watered down” anti-political dynasty bill.
“We cannot support a bill that merely regulates political dynasties instead of prohibiting them,” Reps. Antonio Tinio, Sarah Jane Elago and Renee Louise Co said in a joint statement.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice also said he opposed the approved version as it still allows close relatives to run for and occupy public office at the same time, as long as they do so in different localities.
“In the past, we are only dealing with a fat dynasty. Now, it is an obese dynasty. The President said it is his priority. We went overtime. We passed it in the committee, then we stopped. He just fooled us,” Erice said.
“It means that all his statements are not true. Just flattery, not true. He only wants to cover up the trillion-peso scam in the construction of infrastructure. BBM is no longer Bongbong Marcos, it is Bola-Bola Marcos,” he added.
Erice replaced by De Lima
Erice was removed as senior deputy minority leader.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan made the motion to remove Erice and replace him with House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima during yesterday’s plenary session.
Libanan did not elaborate on Erice’s removal.
The measure bars relatives of national elective officials from holding other national elective posts.
Dy hailed the approval of the consolidated bill, calling it a decisive step toward enforcing a long-standing constitutional mandate.
To strengthen compliance, the bill requires candidates to file a sworn statement declaring that their candidacy will not create a prohibited political dynasty relationship.
If relatives file candidacies, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) must notify affected parties within five days.
Candidates will have 48 hours to decide among themselves who will assume office if more than one wins. The Comelec will draw lots if no agreement is reached.
Adiong explained why the bill does not impose a blanket prohibition on relatives participating in elections in separate localities.
“We cannot prevent altogether those who want the chance to participate in other localities,” he said, emphasizing that running for office does not automatically translate to victory.
“What we are trying to address is the concentration of powers. It has to be disbanded,” he said.
Libanan also elected Sagip party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta as member of the House energy committee.
