6 hours ago
13
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
House launches series of public consultations
MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-one business groups and civil society organizations are calling for a genuine law against political dynasties, with tougher safeguards to fight corruption.
In a joint statement yesterday, the groups said that House Bill 6771 falls short of what can be considered a genuine law to stamp out political dynasties. HB 6771 was filed by Speaker Faustino Dy III and President Marcos’ son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.
“In reality, HB 6771 is a pro-dynasty measure,” the groups said, noting that the proposed legislation permits succession, switching, substitution and rotation among relatives, in effect allowing the preservation of monopoly over political power.
The statement was issued by the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Justice Reform Initiative, Advocates for National Interest, Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan, Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, De La Salle Brothers Inc., De La Salle Philippines, Energy Lawyers Association of the Philippines, Far
Eastern University Public Policy Center, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute of Philippine Real Estate Appraisers, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Inc., Kontra Dinastiya, Military Uniformed Personnel for United Philippines, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Philippine Institute of Arbitrators, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Sanlakas, Seniors on the Move, Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Engineering Research & Development Foundation Inc., and Women for Action Towards Reform.
“Their influence extends far beyond government: many dynasties also dominate local economies through franchises, personal business and the favored granting of permits, tightening their grip on both political and economic life,” the groups said.
Clear provisions
For the country to have a truly effective Anti-Political Dynasty Law, the groups said the proposed legislation should include clear and enforceable provisions.
The group’s proposed provisions include prohibiting relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from running simultaneously or consecutively holding elective office to uphold the “one local, one national” representation principle.
If no relative is serving or seeking office at the national level, the groups said up to two relatives may hold or seek local elective positions, as long as there is no overlap in their respective jurisdictions.
The groups also cited the need to explicitly prohibit substitution, rotation and position-switching, which might be resorted to by some politicians to circumvent term limits.
In addition, the groups said there should be a mandatory cooling-off period equivalent to one full electoral cycle for both term-limited officials and their relatives to prevent them from immediately seeking the same position in successive elections.
“This cooling-off period stops perpetual family succession while still permitting qualified individuals to run for other offices, adhering to the one local, one national representation principle,” the groups said.
Should Congress fail to approve a genuine Anti-Dynasty Law, the groups urged the public to exercise its constitutional right to enact legislation through a People’s Initiative.
The process can be conducted digitally through unique Quick Response codes, biometrics and specimen signatures to verify voter identity, with the implementation of the Philippine Identification System.
The groups emphasized that the battle against political dynasties is also a fight against corruption.
“For our nation to finally break free from the bondage of corruption, political dynasties should no longer thrive. Merit, not lineage, must determine who serves the Filipino people,” the groups said.
Nationwide consultation
Lawmakers, meanwhile, kicked off a nationwide consultation with local officials on anti-dynasty measures, with the province of Cavite as starting point.
House of Representatives committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chairman Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said they have been instructed by Speaker Faustino Dy III to hear the people’s sentiments outside the confines of Congress, and right where they live and work.
“We decided to hold the hearings outside of Congress primarily because it has been very clear in our (1987) Constitution: Sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them,” Adiong said. The formal rollout of the program was held at Carsigma Gym on Sugar Road in Carmona City.
“Today, we are not just here to deliver speeches, but most importantly, we are here to listen to your opinions. This is an avenue where the voice of the people should be heard and considered, which is the very essence of democracy,” Adiong said.
“This consultation is part of the principles of the House of Representatives that an important law should be deliberated through an open and honest discussion,” Dy, for his part, said in a video message.
President Marcos, who is himself part of a political dynasty, earlier voiced support for initiatives aimed at dismantling dynasties, long blamed for stunted growth in the economy especially in the countryside.
Dy and presidential son House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte were among the principal authors of the 24 Anti-Dynasty measures pending before Adiong’s committee.
Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola said the city is honored to host the first public consultation on the Anti-Political Dynasty measures. More than 1,000 people participated in the Carmona City leg of the consultation program.
Adiong said consultations would apprise the people of policy questions including on the extent of family ties, elective posts to be covered, or on whether the ban should apply to simultaneous or successive service.
“These questions are not only for lawyers or experts. These are questions that directly affect the choice of the people and the face of democracy that we are taking care of,” he said.
But he clarified that banning dynasties is only “one step” toward improving the country’s political system.
“It should be paired with campaign finance. We should also review our campaign finance because we are talking of resources that would give due advantage to a certain politician who has so many resources over that of a candidate with no resources at all,” he added.
Dy, in his message, said he believes the public has long been demanding reforms, including the dismantling of dynasties. “On the issue of the proposed law on political dynasty, it is clear that the people are waiting for this for so long,” he said.
In an interview with “Storycon” on One News yesterday, political scientist Julio Teehankee said banning political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity is the most acceptable to both advocates and clan members.
Teehankee said civil society groups would try to push for the maximum scope of the fourth degree of consanguinity, but that limit would be difficult given that nearly three-fourths of both chambers of Congress come from dynasties and the Commission on Elections would be forced to spend more time assessing each candidate’s genealogy.
“The most practical for both dynasties and the others is the second degree, but the ban would have to be both simultaneous and successive,” Teehankee, who is part of De La Salle University’s International Studies department, said.
Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution prohibits political dynasties, but Congress has not passed an enabling law since the Charter was ratified in 1987. - Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, EJ Macababbad
