Remulla on pol dynasties: could be allowed

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla argued that political dynasties “should be allowed” by merit of their performance, in a press conference of the Safer City Initiative in Valenzuela City on Monday, 11 May.

Commending the performances of the Gatchalians and his own clan, Remulla proposed that if all dynasties in the country were like them, it would stand as a reason why political families would be acceptable.

“This is the best argument of why dynasties should be allowed,” he laughed at the question of his stand on clans. “But that is not always the case, pero kung lahat lang katulad nila, nilang magkakapatid, then there is a reason why continuity is acceptable, but it’s not always this,” he said.

According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), there were at least two dozen clans seeking to occupy at least five seats each after the May 2025 elections. In the 20th Congress, 32 of the 64 party-list representatives come from political clans, 20 are founders, shareholders, or have connections to companies that have government contracts and legislative franchise, wherein some received donations for their electoral campaign runs.

Even in candidacy, electoral candidates are prohibited from receiving donations from government contractors, licensees, and franchisees by the Omnibus Electoral Code, or the Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, raising concerns of impunity.

The party-list system was made in the 1987 Constitution to ensure that families would not dominate the Congress, a platform for figures from alternative views, ensuring proper representation from various sectors of society.

First nominee of the 1 Rider party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez is the brother of Legazpi City Mayor Luis Gutierrez, who was linked to co-own public works contractor Alro Construction and Development Corporation with their father, Basil Ramon Gutierrez. His party-list gained donations from contractors Jose Marcial Villanueva, Dandy and Sharon Deyto, the PCIJ found. Rep. Rodge is a key House Prosecutor in the impeachment complaint against the incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte, last year.

Feuded clans Marcos-Romualdez and Duterte also have their share in public service, wherein the former hold offices from the national government down to Tacloban City and Leyte, while the latter are currently facing trial and investigation in their tenure as President, Vice President, with the remaining in Davao City on guard.

Ilocos Norte 1st District Congressman Sandro Marcos and House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, whose political family has been in office in Isabela since the pre-EDSA People Power Movement, previously filed an anti-political dynasty bill, which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged to be passed by Congress last year.

In an exclusive interview on the DAILY TRIBUNE’s Straight Talk, former Interior Secretary Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III pointed out that the Filipino people are no longer ethical. “We always choose wrong over right,” he said.

“I believe that when you are part of a political dynasty, you learn firsthand how families run their respective government positions,” he explained. “We are not building our nation,” he added frankly.

39 years since the 1987 Constitution, no law still has been implemented to effectively enforce the preventive measure.

On Friday, May 8, groups of church leaders and members, lawyers, and former government officials run the “Dapat Isa Lang” campaign, aiming to garner approximately 7 million signatures nationwide for the petition’s validity, through the constitutional mechanism “people’s initiative.” The proposed measure would limit clans to only one national and one local office holder simultaneously.

Remulla previously expressed support for the bill, conveying contentment with his family’s performance in Cavite.

“Alam mo, ano 'yan eh, parang comet that hits the Earth. Tapos extinction event. Magkakaroon tayo ng extinction event. So mauubos kami lahat, us included. Kung kasama 'yan, eh di we're out. Say goodbye. Okay na 'yan,” he commented.

In the Valenzuela press conference, Remulla explained the “best argument” regarding political dynasties Gatchalian and Remulla: “Hindi controversial do’n, pinupuri ko nga e, pinupuri ko mga kapatid ko, pinupuri ko siya. … Bash na nila ko,” he brushed off.