MANILA — Politicians eyeing to sit in the first Bangsamoro Parliament will have to hurdle the issues of political dynasty and turncoatism first before they will be allowed to run for the post or occupy the position, as these restrictions are clearly stated in the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.

The region’s election law carries Section 3 (d) in Article IV which states that: “Nominees submitted by the RPPP shall not be related to each other within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.”

RPPP stands for regional parliamentary political party.

The said anti-political dynasty provision, along with the rule that bars candidates from leaving their political party six months before the elections, and the allotment of 30 percent of the 80 parliamentary seats to women, as well as the other provisions of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, were approved by the Commission on Elections on April 17, 2024.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the commission’s decision is contained in Resolution 10984.

“Bawal po ang nanay, tatay, lolo, lola, asawa, pati po yung anak at apo. Yan po kasi yung umaabot sa second degree of affinity and consanguinity,” Laudiangco explained.

This also means that come October 1 to 8 – filing of Certificate of Candidacy period -- candidates who will be filing their COC should accompany their document with an affidavit attesting that no other member of their family is seeking a parliament seat.

The COC and the affidavit must be submitted along with the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA)  by the candidate’s party, Laudiangco said.

Nadia Lorena of the Bangsamoro People’s Democratic Party meanwhile looks at the allotted seats for women parliamentarians as a symbol of giving their sector a stronger voice in policy-making in the BARMM.

“Inaasahan lang din namin na lahat ng mga kasama namin na tatakbo will adhere to the democratic process. Kasi yun naman talaga ang real goal ng bangsamoro to create a morally government... we hope na ma-minimize sya,” Lorena told ABS-CBN News.

Lorena is hopeful that the anti-political dynasty and the anti-political turncoatism policies will be also embraced by the national level.

“Sana po kung magiging effective po sya sa BARMM. Kung nakakayanan ng BARMM, pwede naman sya gagawin sa national. If there is a political will, siguradong magagawa yan”

For Engineer Don Mustapha Arbison Loong of Progresibong Bangsamoro Party, the civil society group’s effort in gathering BARMM party leaders helps dissipate the tension among the regional political leaders.

Loong also sees the Bangsamoro Electoral Code’s anti-turncoatism provision, which bars a member from leaving his or her party six months before the elections, as an effective way to discipline politicians.

“Dito talagang may punitive provisins na talagang hindi ka pwedeng tumalon-talon ng political party. In fact kung talagang tumalon ka, pwede kang mawala sa elected political position... kung ikaw ay member ng isang member of the parliament at sabi mo ayoko na, eh di pati position mo mawawala,” Loong said.

Civil society group “PARTICIPATE” meanwhile helps BARMM party leaders to understand the significance of the BARMM elections in a deeper meaning.

The group also helps party leaders realize the significance of their role and that of the parliament to the whole country.

“Napakahalaga na mag-succeed ang parliamentary election sa BARMM dahil ito posibleng maging proof of concept na kaya ng reporma sa bansa natin. Kung ang reporma ay maipapatupad sa BARMM, mas lalo na sa ibang parte bansa,” PARTICIPATE chief of party Professor Julio Teehankee said.

For Teehankee, who is also a professor at De La Salle University’s Political Science Department, political parties can also stop the continuous spread of political dynasties and turncoatism, in the absence of a congressional action amending the 39-year old Omnibus Election Code.

“Ang isyu dito ay hindi pamilya kundi kung ano ag hugis ng political players natin. Sa isang demokrasya, ang mahalaga yung partido-pulitikal, ang organisasyo na nagiging behikulo sa pagtakbo sa pulitika at hindi pamilya,” Teehankee pointed out. 

Teehankee said the electorate also deserve to know the stand of 2025 candidates when it comes to the issues of political dynasty and turncoatism.