Marcos to Congress: Prioritize Anti-dynasty bill, other transparency measures

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December 9, 2025 | 2:32pm

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed Congress to prioritize several anti-corruption measures, including a bill banning political dyastines—despite himself coming from one of the most powerful political families in the country.  

In a statement to the media, Palace Claire Castro announced that Marcos directed Congress to prioritize the following measures:  

• Anti-dynasty bill
• Independent People's Commission Act
• Party-list System Reform Act
• Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act

The aforementioned bills were discussed by the president with the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), which is the special advisory body that recommends which measures must be prioritized. 

Also in the meeting were Senate President Tito Sotto, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, House Speaker Bojie Dy, as well as presidential son and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos. 

Castro said Marcos asked Congress to prioritize the passage of these bills “as soon as possible.” 

The 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties, but an enabling law has been needed to fully render the system illegal. The passage of an anti-dynasty bill has long been sought, but Congress has repeatedly failed to approve any such measure. 

A 2024 report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) found that eight in every 10 district representatives in the House are from political dynasties. 

In the Senate, there are four sets of siblings: senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano, Raffy Tulfo and Erwin Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, as well as Mark Villar and Camille Villar. Sen. Imee Marcos is also the president’s sister. 

The administration currently grappling with a massive corruption scandal that has impacted the country's economy and broken public trust, with billions of pesos suspected of being stolen in kickback schemes within the Department of Public Works and Highways. 

Lawmakers react 

Sen. Bam Aquino, the author of the CADENA Act, welcomed Marcos' decision. The CADENA Act seeks to promote transparency through using blockchain technology. 

"Magtatrabaho tayo upang maisabatas ang CADENA Act para matuldukan ang katiwalian sa pamahalaan at matiyak na nagagamit sa tama ang buwis ng taumbayan," Aquino said. 

(We will work to pass the CADENA Act to put an end to corruption in government and to make sure that the people's taxes are used right.) 

However, Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima questioned why the bills were not certified as urgent instead. 

Given the scale of corruption, De Lima said that time was of the essence. The government cannot afford to be lazy. 

"Even if we have to keep repeating it, we will not tire of demanding the president to certify these bills as urgent, and for our colleagues to swiftly pass these measures," De Lima said in Filipino.

By law, a bill must be passed on three reading stages on separate days. If the president certifies a bill as urgent, Congress is then allowed to pass the measure on the same day.