Sen. Robin Padilla during the Senate hearing on the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act in Pasay City on July 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Sen. Robin Padilla has filed another measure to amend the country's Charter, this time targeting political dynasties that dominate national and local politics in the Philippines.

• Padilla says to work to ban dynasties 'little by little'

Padilla, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 9, which proposes to amend the 1987 Constitution to implement the "ban" on political dynasties.

The proposal amends section 26 of Article II on the Declaration of Principles and State Policies by deleting the generic prohibition on political dynasties as "maybe defined by law" and replacing with a specific ban on the following:

• Political dynasties in Metro Manila

• Relatives of the President, Vice President, Senators or Party List Representatives running for the same or any national elective positions

• Relatives of incumbent local officials running for any elective office in the same city and/or province where the incumbent is elected

• Relatives of incumbent local officials running for party-list representative

• Relatives of the President, Vice President, or Senators running for local elective office in the same city or province where the said officials are domiciled

• Relatives as mentioned in the proposal shall refer to spouses or persons related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood

It also prohibits the candidacy in the same election of related persons within the 4th degree of consanguinity of affinity to any elective position provided that the bona fide certificate of candidacy that was first filed will be recognized.

• Padilla revives push for anti-dynasty law

In his press release, Padilla said that instead of waiting for an enabling law from Congress, RBH 9 seeks restrictions on relatives running for public office.

"The term limits of elected officials outlined in the Constitution are not effective in curtailing the proliferation of political dynasties as term-enders may run for a different office or are replaced by a relative, or both," he said.

"Congressional inaction on several anti-political dynasty measures calls for the amendment of Sec. 26, Art. II of the Constitution to convert the same into a self-executory provision," he added.

RBH 9 noted that Congress has not yet passed a law implementing the constitutional ban on political dynasties throughout the 37 years that the charter has been in effect.

• Lawyers’ group files petition vs political dynasties before SC

Last month, Padilla filed Senate Bill 2730, an anti-dynasty measure, and called out the framers of the 1987 charter for "missing the opportunity" to constitutionalize the ban.

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.

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