Lacson eyes swift action on anti dynasty law

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said he would prioritize the passage of a law banning political dynasties, which Congress has failed to enact despite being mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

“I will schedule as soon as possible my anti-political dynasty bill and another bill also referred to the committee,” Lacson said in a radio interview, where he also announced his chairmanship of the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

He said he accepted the chairmanship of the powerful Senate committee which was offered by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero through Senate minority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. Senator Imee Marcos had previously chaired the panel.

At least three measures have been filed in the 20th Congress seeking to ban political dynasties, including Senate Bill No. 35 or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2025 authored by Lacson.

Lacson said the bill aims to fulfill the Constitution’s provision guaranteeing equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibiting political dynasties.

Under the proposed measure, the spouse or a person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent seeking reelection is barred from running in the same city or province in the same election.

“This proposed measure seeks to strike a balance between the two competing fundamental principles of the electorate’s sovereignty and political dynasty. This is in consonance with the constitutional precept that laws should be interpreted not in the letter that killeth but to the spirit that giveth life,” he said in his bill.

“Hence, the proposed measure seeks to prohibit the spouse or person related within the second 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 in the same election.”

The bill would also prohibit two or more persons who have a political dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the same city and/or province, even if neither is related to the incumbent public official.

The other Senate bills seeking to prohibit political dynasties were filed by Senators Robin Padilla and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.