5 hours ago
1
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
Jose Rodel Clapano - The Philippine Star
February 21, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Faustino Dy III yesterday assured the public that the House of Representatives would pass a fair, just and implementable Anti-Political Dynasty bill, as lawmakers brought the Mindanao leg of nationwide consultations to Cagayan de Oro City.
An estimated 1,650 people attended the consultation held at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines.
In a video message, Dy stressed that the goal is not merely to fulfill a constitutional mandate, but to craft a measure that can stand legal scrutiny and work effectively on the ground.
“My countrymen, we are serious about passing a fair, just and implementable Anti-Political Dynasty Law in the 20th Congress,” Dy said.
“We are equally firm in our belief that any law we pass must be the product of wide, inclusive and sincere consultation – a law that is carefully tackled, carefully studied and rooted to the true sentiment of the Filipinos,” he added.
The Cagayan de Oro consultation followed earlier hearings in Carmona, Cavite and Cebu City.
Turning to Mindanao stakeholders, the Speaker emphasized that the House wanted to capture regional perspectives that are often underrepresented in national debates.
The people of Cagayan de Oro meanwhile, expressed strong support for the proposed anti-political dynasty bill.
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental president Ed Cuaresma, one of the resource persons at the event, said that political dynasty is a major cause of systemic connivance and corruption in the country.
“I am for the passing of the anti-political dynasty bill. Political dynasty is a concentration of power to a single family. What will happen if this will not pass in the House of Representatives? We will set a people’s initiative,” he said.
Cuaresma added that there has to be a law that would stop the appointment of relatives in government and stop the concentration of positions in “one single family.”
“No one has the monopoly of best ideas in so far as the Filipino nation is concerned,” he said.
Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan described the anti-dynasty measure as “necessary and urgent.”
“The law requires, the Constitution requires that we have to prohibit political dynasties. The time is now,” he said.
For Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Jennifer Lagbas, the measure presents an opportunity to widen democratic space and allow more Filipinos to express their desire to serve.
Meanwhile, House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chair Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed confidence that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act remains on track despite a heavy legislative workload, including impending deliberations on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Not aimed at VP
Lawmakers, meanwhile, rejected claims circulating on social media that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act is aimed at Duterte, stressing that the reform is not anchored on her 2028 presidential bid.
“The electoral reform is a big issue. It is not revolving on issues about a particular candidate. So I don’t know why it is being connected. It’s farfetched,” Adiong said.
