‘Dynasty ban also covers appointive posts’

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January 28, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The constitutional prohibition on political dynasties is not limited to elective posts but also extends to appointive positions, a University of the Philippines-College of Law official told the House of Representatives yesterday.

UP law professor and physician Lee Edson Yarcia made the clarification during a hearing of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms as they consolidate 20 proposed anti-political dynasty bills under committee chair Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur.

The issue was raised after ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio asked whether the prohibition applies to appointive posts, recalling what he described as the “conjugal dictatorship” during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

During that period, Imelda Marcos held several government positions. Apart from being first lady, she served as minister of the now defunct Ministry of Human Settlements and was appointed governor of Metropolitan Manila.

According to Yarcia, records of the 1986 Constitutional Commission debates show that the ban was intended to be categorical.

He cited the views of then constitutional commissioner and former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., who emphasized preventing the concentration of power within families regardless of how officials assume office.

At the House, Speaker Faustino Dy III vowed to pass an enabling law on political dynasties during the 20th Congress, which runs until June 2028.

“The Filipino people have been waiting for this for so long. It has been close to 40 years since our Constitution was ratified with a provision intended to guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties,” the House leader said.

President Marcos has included the Anti-Political Dynasty bill among his priority legislative measures and listed it in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agenda for expedited passage.

“It’s about time we discuss this thoroughly so that we can come up with a measure that will be acceptable to all stakeholders concerned,” Dy said.

“Let us be reminded that this is just the start of a wider series of reforms aimed at strengthening even further our democracy and expanding even more the opportunity of everyone to serve as our public servants, so that we can regain the trust of our countrymen in our institutions,” he added.

Adiong, for his part, said the measure goes beyond political families.

“Equal access. Fair competition. Accountability. Renewal of leadership. The idea that public office is a public trust, not a hereditary entitlement. This bill is not an indictment of families. It is an affirmation of principles,” the senior Muslim lawmaker said.

“For decades, the constitutional provision on political dynasties has existed as a promise waiting to be fulfilled. Today, for the first time in a serious and deliberate way, the House takes a decisive step toward giving life to that promise,” he added.

Meanwhile, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno renewed his call for the passage of a comprehensive anti-dynasty law.

“Thirty-eight years have passed since the Constitution commanded that Congress pass an anti-political dynasty law. The intent of the framers was crystal clear: democracy must not be undermined by the concentration of power in a few families. Public office must remain a public trust; position is not for inheritance,” Diokno said.

He explained that the proposed measure provides a precise definition of political dynasties and clearly identifies prohibited relationships and scenarios across all levels of government.

Existing laws, such as the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law and the Bangsamoro electoral and governance codes, already contain anti-dynasty provisions. However, Diokno said these remain limited in scope.

Citing a study by the Ateneo Policy Center, Diokno said the share of elected posts held by political dynasties increased from 19 percent in 1988 to 29 percent in 2019, involving more than 1,500 political families. — Jose Rodel Clapano