INVOKING the constitutional principle that “sovereignty resides in the people,” the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms on Thursday launched the first in a series of nationwide public consultations on proposed legislation seeking to ban political dynasties.
The consultation, held at the Carsigma Gym along Sugar Road in Carmona City, Cavite, marked the formal rollout of regional hearings initiated by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, who together with House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos filed House Bill (HB) No. 6771, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Chair of the suffrage and electoral panel, said the discussion was deliberately brought outside Congress to hear directly from citizens before finalizing the measure.
“Dinala po namin ang pagdinig na ito sa labas ng Kongreso dahil malinaw ang sinasabi ng ating Saligang Batas: ‘Sovereignty resides in the People’, ang Soberanya ay nagmumula sa Taumbayan,” Adiong said.
“Ngayong araw, hindi lang kami narito para magsalita, kundi para makinig. Ito ay pagdinig mismo sa boses ng mamamayan sa isang usaping tumatama sa pinakaugat ng ating demokrasya,” he added.
HB No. 6771 and related measures seek to implement the 1987 Constitution’s policy against political dynasties by defining prohibited family relationships and setting limits on holding elective posts. A total of 24 anti political dynasty bills have been filed in the House.
Carmona Mayor Dr. Dahlia Loyola welcomed participants to the consultation, and said the city was honored to host the first public consultation on the Anti-Political Dynasty measures.
Before opening the regional consultations, the committee conducted two hearings examining the proposal’s legal and constitutional foundations and consulted legal scholars, advocates and the Commission on Elections.
Adiong said reform would lack meaning without public participation.
“Hindi magiging makabuluhan ang anumang reporma kung hindi ito nakaugat sa tunay na karanasan at tinig ng mamamayan. Ang batas na ating mabubuo ay magiging bunga ng sama-samang pagninilay at pakikilahok ng sambayanan,” he pointed out.
He outlined key policy questions now being placed before the public, including what family ties should be covered, how far the prohibited degree of relation should extend, which elective posts should be included, and whether the ban should apply to simultaneous or successive service.
“Ang mga tanong na ito ay hindi lamang para sa mga abogado o eksperto. Ito ay mga tanong na direktang nakakaapekto sa pagpili ng mamamayan at sa anyo ng demokrasya na ating pinangangalagaan,” Adiong said.
“Bilang tunay na pinagmumulan ng kapangyarihan, may karapatan ang taumbayan na marinig bago magtakda ang Kongreso ng mga hangganan ng isang batas na huhubog sa pulitika ng bansa sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” he continued.
Adiong said public input would guide the drafting of the final measure.
“Makakaasa po kayo na ang inyong mga pananaw ay magiging gabay sa aming patuloy na pagsisikap na makabuo ng isang Anti-Political Dynasty Law na makatarungan, balanse, at tapat sa ating Saligang Batas. Ito ang inyong pagkakataon na magsalita, at tungkulin namin, mga kinatawan ninyo, na makinig.”
The public consultation drew in an estimated 1,500 attendees representing the youth, barangay officials, non-government organizations, women’s groups, barangay health workers, and government employees.
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