HOUSE of Representatives of the Philippines Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chair Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday said the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act aims to strike a balance between the State’s constitutional duty to prevent the concentration of political power and the people’s right to vote and seek public office.
“Hindi na po pwede sabay na manungkulan si misis at si mister. Si miis at ‘yung kanyang anak, si nanay at si tatay. ‘Yun po ang sigurado na wala pong possible manipulation ng internal resources ng ating mga LGU,” Alonto Adiong said during plenary deliberations on House Bill No. 8389.
Alonto Adiong made the statement in response to interpellations by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiango, who raised concerns over whether the bill could definitively limit the number of family members who may eventually win in elections.
The bill bars relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously running for or holding office in the same locality. It is currently pending second reading approval in the House of Representatives.
Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos are the principal authors of the measure, which has 173 other co-authors and has been endorsed as a priority measure by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..
Tiangco pointed out during the debates that the measure could not definitively guarantee how many members of a political family may ultimately win elective posts after elections.
In response, Alonto Adiong acknowledged that election outcomes would always depend on the will of the voters.
“Sa bawat eleksyon ay wala namang kasiguraduhan kung ilan po talaga ‘yung nananalo,” Alonto Adiong pointed out.
Still, he stressed that the measure guarantees that close relatives could no longer simultaneously occupy positions that may allow political families to consolidate influence and access to LGU resources.
“Ang kasiguraduhan po dito sa [panukalang] batas ay wala nang posibilidad ng manipulation ng internal resources ng LGU,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Lanao del Sur lawmaker added that the bill was carefully crafted to balance political reform with democratic rights.
“Dahil nga po ang gusto nating i-emphasize ay magkaroon ng timbang ‘yung right to vote and the right to be voted upon,” he said.
Alonto Adiong also described the measure as a major step toward finally implementing the Constitution’s long-standing anti-political dynasty provision.
“Dahil wala pong anti-political dynasty na polisiya ang ating national government, ang ating gobyerno, ito po ay malaking step forward,” he said.
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