Marcos Jr. urged: Certify IPC, anti-dynasty bills as urgent

December 11, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos needs to certify as urgent both the Anti-Political Dynasty bill and the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) Act to fast-track their passage, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.

The senator said Marcos’ placement of the two bills among the 48 measures in the administration’s priority list is “not enough” to fast-track their approval, given the limited legislative days left before Congress’ Christmas break.

“A certification would be better,” Pangilinan said.

He noted that it had been nearly 40 years since the Constitution banned dynasties, and yet Congress has not passed the enabling law for it.

“I hope that again a majority will support it,” Pangilinan said, recalling the last time an anti-dynasty bill was approved by a majority of senators.

If Congress fails, Pangilinan urged the Supreme Court to “legislate” by ruling on several petitions to declare political dynasties unconstitutional.

“That is another track, that SC rules on the definition of political dynasties in the cases pending before them,” he said, saying “judicial legislation” could be another track to ban dynasties.

On the IPC, Pangilinan said the administration must demonstrate its commitment to accountability by giving the measure full support in the form of urgency certification.

Malacañang yesterday said that “abuses” by politicians who circumvented the law prompted the President to push for the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty and party-list reform bills.

His appeal was a reversal of his stance during the 2022 campaign, when he said that politics is “about performance” and those who are worried about dynasties should “take everybody to an election.”

Gaining ground

Meanwhile, Filipinos from across different backgrounds have launched a campaign to push for the passage Anti-Political Dynasty bill.

“The recent flood control scandal has again exposed the entrenchment, scale and normalization of corruption in our country. This has been enabled by gross political and socio-economic inequalities, engendered by the dominance of political families,” a statement by the Anti-Dynasty Network read.

Among the initial signatories of the statement were Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, University of the Philippines political science lecturer Francis Aquino Dee and Aika Robredo, daughter of Naga Mayor Leni Robredo.

Since its release on Monday, over 300 individuals have signed the statement.

“We encourage the coming together of all similar networks and stakeholders to converse with each other toward articulating a unified citizen position on dynasties that will secure a democracy that works for all and not the few,” it added.

Business groups are also pressing President Marcos to “certify as urgent” the passage of the bills creating the IPC and the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.- Alexis Romero. Janvic Mateo, Brix Lelis

Recommended