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Jose Rodel Clapano - The Philippine Star
December 12, 2025 | 1:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Faustino Dy III and President Marcos’ son Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos have jointly filed a bill seeking to prohibit political dynasties.
Under House Bill No. 6771, the spouses, siblings and relatives within the fourth civil degree of affinity or consanguinity of an elected public official are disqualified from simultaneously holding elective public positions.
Dy and Marcos said that there is a need to define and prohibit the establishment and perpetuation of political dynasties to promote equitable political participation.
“The core of democratic governance is the principle of political equality, that every citizen should have an equal opportunity to participate in and influence political decision-making,” Dy and Marcos said in HB 6771.
Dy and Marcos cited Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides that “[t)he State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
“It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and guarantee equal access to opportunities for public office and render service to the people. Toward this end, the State shall adopt measures to prevent the establishment and perpetuation of political dynasties or familial concentrations of political power and shall promote equal opportunities for all citizens to participate in governance and serve the public based on merit, competence and integrity,” Dy and Marcos said.
Under HB 6771, elective positions refer to that of president, vice president and senator for national level; members of the House of Representatives and party-lists; governor, vice governor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for provincial level; city mayor, city vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for city level; municipal mayor, municipal vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Bayan for municipality level; punong barangay and members of the Sangguniang Barangay for barangay level.
latives refer to individuals who have an existing political dynasty relationship with an incumbent elective public official; while spouse refers to the legal or common law spouse of the incumbent elective public official.
No half-cooked measures – Palace
While he is serious about pushing for the passage of bills on political and government expenditure reforms, President Marcos does not want their enactment to be rushed as it could result in half-baked laws, Malacañang said yesterday.
The President added four priority bills in his legislative wish list, including measures prohibiting political dynasties and reforming the party-list system, during a meeting with lawmakers last Tuesday.
He also requested Congress to prioritize the passage of the bill establishing an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) that would investigate anomalous infrastructure projects and the proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability or CADENA Act.
There have been calls for Marcos to certify the anti-dynasty and IPC bills as urgent to hasten their passage since lawmakers only have a few session days before their Christmas break.
In an interview with dzBB, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there is no information yet on whether the certification would be issued. However, Marcos’ appeal for lawmakers to prioritize them reflected his seriousness about seeing them passed, she added.
“Many are claiming that just because he has not certified the bills as urgent, the President is not serious... If he were not serious, he would not have mentioned them during the LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council),” the Palace press officer said.
Asked what is keeping the President from certifying the bills, Castro cited the need to thoroughly examine their provisions.
“It is better to discuss the provisions of the four bills thoroughly. It would be better if they are studied, examined instead of rushing their passage and then approve half-cooked measures,” the Palace press officer said.
CBCP: Pass bill without delay
The anti-dynasty law should be passed without delay after President Marcos and congressional leaders agreed to prioritize its passage, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Thursday.
“An anti-dynasty law should be passed without delay. Some clans have dominated politics for decades. Yet even newer politicians in national leadership seem to quickly expand their reach through the election or appointment of their relatives,” CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action-Justice and Peace chair Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said.
Alminaza, who also serves as president of Caritas Philippines, urged the public “not to tolerate political dynasties,” saying it is time for fresh, qualified candidates to lead the government.
“[We must] stand together and continue our advocacy until measures for non-repetition and accountability are fully achieved,” Alminaza added. “Corruption must finally end; nothing less will do. This is also the moment for our nation to pass a genuine anti-dynasty law.”
AmCham backs CADENA
The proposed CADENA Act would send an “encouraging signal” to investors, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said yesterday, noting that this could drive more investments into the Philippines.
Greater public access to budget information is a critical step in strengthening trust in public institutions,” Steve Winkates, Arangkada project director at AmCham Philippines, said in a statement.
“This measure will help to strengthen investor confidence, unlock greater economic opportunities and attract more investment,” Winkates said.
Proposed by Sen. Bam Aquino, CADENA Act or Senate Bill 1506 is among the four priority bills tagged by President Marcos during a recent LEDAC meeting.
If enacted into law, Aquino has said the CADENA Act will allow the public to monitor how the government spends taxpayers’ money in a bid to fight corruption. – Brix Lelis, Bella Cariaso, Alexis Romero
