The Makabayan Coalition challenged Congress and the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to prove their sincerity in finally passing a law against political dynasties.
After Isabela Third District Rep. Faustino Dy III promised to file his version of an anti-political dynasty bill last Wednesday, ACT Teachers, Kabataan Youth and Gabriela Women’s partylists reminded the House of Representatives Speaker that their House Bills. 209 and 4784 have already been filed on the first day of the 20th Congress last July.
“While we note Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III promise to file an anti-political dynasty bill, we remain deeply skeptical…We challenge the House leadership to prove their sincerity by supporting and fast-tracking HB Nos. 209 and 4784,” Makabayan said.
Dy, himself a third generation dynast with 16 other close relatives currently occupying national and local elective positions, announced yesterday it is time to confront the Constitutional issue ignored by Congress since 1987: the passage of a law against political dynasties.
“I know that many people raise their eyebrows at this issue, and I admit I’m aware that many eyes are on me because of my family,” he said.
Makabayan said Dy may choose to just endorse their bill as urgent instead of filing his own version.
Genuine anti-dynasty provisions
The Coalition said their HBs 209 and 4784 are true anti-political dynasty measures with clear and uncompromising provisions which President Marcos Jr., himself a dynast, must also certify as urgent.
The progressive lawmakers said provisions of HB Nos. 209 and 4784 are comprehensive and leave no room for loopholes.
The bills seek to mandate that no person shall hold or run for any elective national or local office simultaneously with another relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Additionally, no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to an incumbent elected official shall immediately succeed to that official’s position, these read.
The Coalition said their versions of the measures are most faithful to Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Senate another stumbling block
Even with the House leadership promising passage of an anti-political dynasty measure, Makabayan said their Senate colleagues may stonewall the reform.
“We have seen this script before. The House has historically passed anti-political dynasty bills in third reading, only to see them shot down in the Senate. This pattern of legislative theater must end,” the Coalition said.
The current Senate has at least four sets of political dynasties in its chambers: Brothers Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, siblings Mark and Camille Villar, brothers Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, and siblings Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano.
“This is precisely why genuine reform has been impossible. Those who benefit from the system will never voluntarily dismantle it,” Makabayan fumed.
The most powerful dynasties in the country are the Marcoses and Dutertes whose leaders currently occupy the top elected positions in government.
Dynasty-infested elections
The domination of political dynasties in Philippine elections became more evident during the May 2025 elections when multiple candidates from families swarmed local and national positions.
Makabayan cited a report by the United Nations Development Programme revealing that of the 77 provinces included in the study, 72 provinces or 94 percent have political families, with an average of 2.31 political clans per province.
The Coalition said social reform is the agenda behind their measures, seeking to eliminate the plague of public offices becoming the exclusive domain of influential families and clans.
They have even infiltrated the party-list system, Makabayan bewailed.
“The ball is now in the court of the House leadership and our colleagues. Will you support a genuine anti-dynasty bills like HB No. 209 and 4784, or will you file a watered-down version designed to preserve the status quo? Will you fast-track this measure, or will you let it languish in committee like all previous attempts?” Makabayan asked.
“We call on Speaker Dy and the entire House leadership to put their money where their mouth is. Support HB Nos. 209 and 4784 and fast-track its passage, as a step towards genuine freedom and democracy for the Filipino people. And finally break the stranglehold of political dynasties on our nation’s governance, it added.
Akbayan lawmakers also filed House Bill 5905 to ban political dynasties on Wednesday. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
