Solon backs anti-political dynasty bill

Solon backs anti-political dynasty bill | Daily Tribune

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Sarangani Lone District Congressman Steve Chiongbian Solon has thrown his support behind the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, joining lawmakers pushing to finally enforce a constitutional mandate that has eluded Congress for nearly four decades.

Filed as House Bill No. 6771, the measure represents the most significant effort in recent years to put Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution into action. That provision declares that the State shall prohibit political dynasties “as may be defined by law.” Despite its inclusion in the Constitution, Congress has never passed an enabling law—mainly due to resistance from legislators who themselves come from political families.

The bill’s explanatory note emphasizes its reformist purpose, calling the constitutional mandate a core democratic principle meant to ensure fair competition, equal access to public office, and genuine public service.

Under HB 6771, close relatives of incumbents or candidates would be barred from holding elective positions within the same local government unit. For national posts, the rule extends to relatives holding another national elective position or any role in the same legislative district. Supporters say the measure prevents the consolidation of political power while still allowing family members to run for office elsewhere or at different times.

“This bill is a faithful execution of the constitutional provision — a strategic reform for good governance, and an assertion of the principle that public office is a public trust,” the explanatory note states.

Anti-dynasty legislation is not new — similar bills have been filed in nearly every Congress since 1987 — but none have become law. Critics point to an obvious conflict of interest: lawmakers from political clans are effectively asked to regulate themselves.

Solon’s endorsement carries particular weight in Sarangani, a province where politics, like in many parts of the country, has long been shaped by family alliances and name recognition. While the bill does not target any individual or family, its passage could reshape local politics by giving first-time candidates a better shot and weakening entrenched power structures. Observers say it could shift campaigns toward issues over lineage, opening space for new leaders outside established political families.