House of Representatives Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III has vowed to focus on other topics – including a possible Anti-Political Dynasty Bill – as the chamber has approved its version of the proposed 2026 national budget.
In his speech at the resumption of session on Tuesday, Dy said that the House will expedite discussions on the proposals to institutionalize the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, or the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Bill, as the people have zero tolerance for corruption.
After this, Dy mentioned a proposed Anti-Political Dynasty bill, which he said would fulfill the 1987 Constitution’s provisions stating that Congress should define what constitutes a political dynasty.
‘Our message is clear, there will be zero delays in the passage of these measures, because our people have zero tolerance for corruption. That’s why our directive regarding this is also clear, we will pass this before we adjourn this December,’ he said in mixed Filipino and English.
‘Second, regarding the proposed Anti-Dynasty Bill filed here. It is time to face another point of discussion stated in our Constitution, the passage of a law against political dynasties,’ he added.
Dy admitted that his statements may be met with raised eyebrows, as his family has been considered a fat dynasty in their home province of Isabela.
Last October 22, Dy released his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), which indicated that he has a total net worth of P74 million. However, what caught netizens’ eyes were the 16 relatives that Dy indicated to be in various government posts.
This includes his son Faustino ‘Inno’ Dy V, former Isabela 6th District representative and now Echague town Mayor; son Francis Faustino Dy, former Echague mayor and now Isabela Vice Governor; brothers Victor Dy and Manuel Faustino Dy, who are both Board Members in Isabela, and daughter-in-law Alyssa Sheena Tan-Dy, Mayor of Santiago City.
‘I know that many would raise their eyebrows regarding such discussions, and I must admit that a lot of attention would be fixed on me because my family, like many others, has had a long tradition of being in public service,’ he said.
‘I won’t deny that, because I believe public service positions should not be inherited, but entrusted by the people. To be honest, I have many relatives in various positions, but many also lost during the elections. In the end, it’s the people who have decided who they want to lead their local governments,’ he added.
Dy urged his colleagues in the House to join him in discussing this measure as the proposal is not meant to limit chances for candidates seeking elective posts, but to urge more individuals to run for office.
‘Join me in pushing for a proposed bill that gives a clear and just definition of a political dynasty – a definition that is true to the spirit of our Constitution which is geared towards strengthening our democracy,’ he said.
‘The goal of this measure is not to block anyone, but to increase the chances for more Filipinos to serve and partake in governance. My colleagues, let us prove not only in words, but also in action, that we are ready to listen to our people,’ he added.
Several bills seeking a ban on political dynasties have been filed before the House of the 20th Congress. Last July, one of the first bills of the Makabayan bloc was House Bill (HB) No. 209 or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.
The proposed Section 4 under the bill prohibits dynasties by placing these two provisions:
No person shall hold or run for any elective national or local office simultaneously with another within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood
No person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to an incumbent elected official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter
The bill, should it become a law, will be applicable for the subsequent elections.
In the bill’s explanatory note, Tinio and Co explained that the 1987 Constitution’s Article II, Section 26 explicitly prohibits political dynasties, but leaves it to Congress to define how a dynasty should be considered.
However, Makabayan said Congress has repeatedly ignored bills seeking to ban dynasties.
Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, despite being part of a political family, also filed a similar bill as he believes it is time for Congress to pass a measure that defines and bans political dynasties.
Flores said last July 4 that he filed the bill banning immediate relatives from succeeding an incumbent elected official even if it was against his own interests, in order to level the playing field.
According to Flores, a candidate who has relatives in a specific position could already gain several advantages – like as simple name recall – that other candidates do not have.