Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday said he would prioritize the passage of a law banning political dynasties, which Congress has been failing 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 that committee," Lacson said in a radio interview, where he also announced his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation.
According to him, he accepted the chairmanship of the powerful Senate committee, which he said was offered by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero through Senate minority leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
Senator Imee Marcos previously chaired the said Senate panel.
At least three proposed measures were filed in the 20th Congress seeking the prohibition of political dynasties. One of them was Senate Bill No. 35, or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2025, which was filed by Lacson.
Lacson said the bill aims to fulfill the 1987 Constitution's provision guaranteeing equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibiting political dynasties.
Under his proposed measure, the spouse or a person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent seeking reelection from running in the same city and/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 re-election, to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in the same election," he added.
Also, the bill prohibits 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 so related to the incumbent public official.
The remaining Senate bills seeking to prohibit political dynasties were filed by Senators Robin Padilla and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.