Hontiveros revives bid to ban political dynasties

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to finally define and prohibit political dynasties, nearly four decades after the 1987 Constitution ordered Congress to act on the matter.

The Constitution mandates the state to “guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Despite this, no enabling law has been passed.

Senate Bill 1548, or the Kontra Dinastiya Act, aims to address what Hontiveros described as the deep-rooted dominance of political clans across national and local posts.

A 2018 study showed dynastic control remained pervasive, with 81 percent of governors and vice governors, 69 percent of mayors, and 57 percent of vice mayors belonging to political families.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism likewise reported that over 80 percent of district representatives come from political dynasties.

Under the bill, a political dynasty exists when spouses or relatives occupy or run for positions within the same jurisdiction. It bars relatives up to the fourth degree from holding or seeking office simultaneously in the same legislative district, province, city, or party-list group.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be authorized to reject or disqualify candidates who violate the measure. Citizens, political parties and organizations may also file petitions for disqualification, with violations treated as election offenses.

“The time has come for Congress to fulfill its constitutional mandate to define and prohibit political dynasties,” Hontiveros said.

“The passage of an Anti-Political Dynasty Law is necessary to restore fairness in our electoral system, strengthen public institutions, and ensure that leadership in government is determined not by birth or inherited political machinery, but by merit and integrity,” she added.

The act will take effect 15 days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation and apply to future elections. Comelec will issue implementing rules within 90 days.