House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy lll along with members of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms launched the first of the series of nationwide public consultations on legislation seeking to ban political dynasties.

Invoking the constitutional principle that “sovereignty resides in the people,” the consultation, started at the Carsigma Gym along Sugar Road in Carmona City, Cavite, marking the formal rollout of regional hearings initiated by Speaker Dy with House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos who filed House Bill (HB) No. 6771, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Chair of the suffrage and electoral panel, said the discussion was deliberately brought outside Congress to hear directly from citizens before finalizing the measure.

“We brought the hearing outside of Congress because it is clear based on our constitution that ‘Sovereignty resides in the People’, ang Soberanya ay nagmumula sa Taumbayan,” Adiong said.

“Ngayong araw, hindi lang kami narito para magsalita, kundi para makinig. Ito ay pagdinig mismo sa boses ng mamamayan sa isang usaping tumatama sa pinakaugat ng ating demokrasya,” he added.

HB No. 6771 and related measures  seek to implement the 1987 Constitution’s policy against political dynasties by defining prohibited family relationships and setting limits on holding elective posts. A total of 24 anti political dynasty bills have been filed in the House.

Carmona Mayor Dr. Dahlia Loyola welcomed participants to the consultation, and said the city was honored to host the first public consultation on the Anti-Political Dynasty measures.

Before opening the regional consultations, the committee conducted two hearings examining the proposal’s legal and constitutional foundations and consulted legal scholars, advocates and the Commission on Elections.

Adiong said reform would lack meaning without public participation.

He outlined key policy questions now being placed before the public, including what family ties should be covered, how far the prohibited degree of relation should extend, which elective posts should be included, and whether the ban should apply to simultaneous or successive service.

Adiong said public input would guide the drafting of the final measure.

The public consultation drew in an estimated 1,500 attendees representing the youth, barangay officials, non-government organizations, women's groups, barangay health workers, and government employees.