Senate of the Philippines. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Sen. Robin Padilla has revived the push for the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, citing the "unyielding" calls to stop the monopoly of political power.

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"It is time to break the barriers preventing the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino people," Padilla said in the explanatory note of Senate Bill 2730, filed Monday.

Padilla said the framers of the 1987 Constitution "missed an opportunity" to constitutionalize the ban.

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"Looking at the political, social, and economic impact of political dynasties, it is undeniable that the framers of our constitution missed the opportunity to define it and embody the same in our constitution. To merely state our policy against political dynasties and leave it to Congress to pass an enacting laws to breathe life into it is futile since members of the legislature come from political dynasties," Padilla said.

Padilla indicated he was filing the bill to comply with the mandate to enact an anti-political dynasty laws and taking a step towards leveling the playing field in politics and governance.

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While there is no specific law against political dynasties, under Republic Act No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, candidates are prohibited to run if they relatives up to the second civil degree who are incumbent elected officials.

PADILLA'S BILL

Padilla's bill defines political dynasty as "2 or more persons who are spouses or related to one another within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity run simultaneously for elective public office within the same city and/or province, or as nominees to any party-list, even if neither is related to the incumbent elective official."

Under his bill, spouse may be both the legal or common-law wife of husband of an incumbent elective official or candidate.

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It bans any spouse or person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection, to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province, or any party list-in the same election.

It adds that in case the constituency of the incumbent elective official is national in character, the above relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same city and/or province where the former is domiciled or in any, including the same, national position.

It also prohibits candidates who are not holding any public office but are within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity but their election will result in a political dynasty relationship.

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It also bans people with a political dynasty relationship to the incumbent from succeeding that incumbent.

Candidates must file a sworn statement with the Comelec that the candidate is not prohibited under this proposed law.

Violations will mean that the candidacy will be denied due course.

Votes for that candidate should not be counted and the candidate shall not be proclaimed or qualified to assume office.

In March this year, a group of lawyers filed a petition for mandamus before the Supreme Court to compel Congress to enact a law which prohibits political dynasties among elected government officials.

The group said the 1987 Constitution mandates that Congress should enact a law prohibiting political dynasties.

The SC has not yet ruled on the petition. 

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