Dynasty Bill Faces Congressional Hurdles Despite Supreme Court Order

PHILIPPINE legislators may have other pressing matters to attend to before they can advance a long-stalled anti-political dynasty bill, the Palace said, after the Supreme Court ordered Congress to pass such a law. Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro on Thursday reiterated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. considers the measure one of his priority bills and wants it passed before his term ends but said its fate rests with lawmakers. “The timeline is in Congress’ hands. What the President wants to convey is that he wants this passed,” Ms. Castro told reporters, when asked whether the Palace was satisfied with the bill’s slow progress, particularly in the Senate. “They simply have a lot of work. We cannot blame the lawmakers in Congress because we also know they have a lot of work to do and many other matters that need to be prioritized,” she said. The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 8389 on third and final reading on June 3, while the Senate counterpart, Senate Bill No. 1901, remains pending on second reading. The Supreme Court ruled last month that Congress’ failure to pass a law banning political dynasties, as required under Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, in the last 39 years, constituted grave abuse of discretion, and directed lawmakers to enact the measure at the earliest opportunity. “The Supreme Court’s decision has come out, they know it too, and they also want an anti-political dynasty law to truly be enacted,” Ms. Castro said. The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) separately urged Congress to pass a broader measure, backing proposals by Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel I. Diokno and Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel. The FFW said that the proposals would cover spouses and relatives up to the fourth civil degree, including first cousins, and restrict simultaneous officeholding and immediate family succession in covered positions. “It is not enough to change the first name if the same clan still holds the power,” FFW President Sonny G. Matula said in a statement in Filipino. “The government is for the good of everyone, not a business, and should not be controlled by a few families” Lawmakers on Thursday also said that the House-approved anti-political dynasty bill does not comply with the Supreme Court’s directive for Congress to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties, arguing that the measure would regulate rather than dismantle political clans. Party-list Reps. Antonio L. Tinio, Sarah Jane I. Elago and Renee Louise M. Co said that the House version merely limits the number of relatives who may simultaneously hold office, which they said could allow political families to retain power through succession. Meanwhile, Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, who hails from a political family, said there should be no monopoly of both economic and political power following the Supreme Court’s directive on Wednesday compelling the Congress to enact the anti-dynasty law. “No one should monopolize power. Power should not be monopolized, whether economic or political,” Mr. Ejercito told a news briefing. “Perhaps among the 116 million Filipinos, many want to serve, want to do good, but they simply do not have the opportunity because they lack a name, they lack name recall, the machinery, and funds.” He said he has long advocated against political dynasty since he first started serving in Congress. Mr. Ejercito, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr.’s brother, is among the four pairs of sibling senators in the chamber. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Pexcel John Bacon and Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel