Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar “Egay” Erice has criticized the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill filed by House Speaker Bojie Dy and House Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos, calling it “unconstitutional” and “designed to fail.”
In an interview on DZRH, Erice said the measure violates the intent of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article II, Section 26, which mandates the State to prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.
“Unconstitutional. It is a travesty of the intent of the framers of the Constitution,” Erice said.
He noted that at least 10 versions of an anti-political dynasty bill have already been filed in Congress, but described the Dy-Marcos version as ineffective.
“Mayroon nang sampung bersyon ng anti-political dynasty bill sa Kongreso. Noong binasa ko ang bersyon nina Speaker Bojie Dy at Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, natawa ako dahil walang kwenta iyon at hindi talaga lulusot,” he added.
Erice also questioned whether President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was consulted prior to the filing of the bill, saying the President is fully aware of what constitutes a political dynasty. He cited the 2015 Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law, which included provisions barring SK officials from running for office if they have immediate family members holding elective posts.
“Tingin ko hindi nadetalye na alam ni Presidente na na-file na ‘yan,” Erice said.
The lawmaker said the Constitution sets at least three parameters for an effective anti-political dynasty law, all of which, he claimed, the Dy-Marcos bill fails to meet.
First, he said the measure does not meaningfully limit the monopoly of political power, as it still allows multiple members of the same family to seek office simultaneously. Second, it fails to provide equal opportunity for ordinary citizens, particularly poor but qualified candidates, to compete against entrenched political clans. Third, he described the bill as arbitrary, especially its provision banning relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity.
“Hindi nito nililimitahan ang monopoly ng kapangyarihan dahil lima, anim, pitong miyembro pa rin ng pamilya ang pwedeng tumakbo,” Erice said. “Hindi rin ito nagbibigay ng equal opportunity sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan.”
He added that international standards on anti-political dynasty laws typically limit restrictions to immediate family members within the same household, not extended relatives.
Erice said the bill appears to have been crafted in a way that would not survive legal challenges.
The lawmaker revealed that he filed his own version of an anti-political dynasty bill as early as July 2025, but it has yet to be calendared by the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, allegedly because lawmakers were waiting for a leadership-backed proposal.
His measure limits each family to two elective positions—one national and one local—and covers only relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity.
Dy and Marcos filed House Bill No. 6771 following President Marcos’ directive for Congress to prioritize the passage of an anti-political dynasty law and other reform measures.
Under HB 6771, individuals with relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity who are incumbent elected officials would be barred from running for office. The proposal, however, has drawn criticism from various sectors, which argue that it contains loopholes and may fail to genuinely curb political dynasties.