The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms will hold its initial deliberations on the anti-political dynasty bills by the third week of January, following President Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize these measures to restore public trust in government.
In a press conference, committee chair and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said he was also waiting for Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III or Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos to file their own version of the anti-political dynasty bill.
‘As far as the House is concerned, it’s not just a matter of support because there are currently 11 versions referred to my committee and normally (such a bill) would trigger debates.but in this case, we’re anticipating that the minority and majority share the same goal,’ he told reporters.
‘So in terms of having it pass the hurdles, legislative mills of these two legislations, I don’t see any reason for there to be a problem. I think the House of Representatives can pass this bill,’ he added.
Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. echoed the sentiment, saying that Mr. Marcos’ public support for the bill ‘sends a very strong signal that Malacañang is really pushing for this. It’s definitely going to be a huge influence on the House that the President supports this.’
Before Mr. Marcos, Dy himself told the chamber last month to prioritize the passage of the long-overdue measure that seeks to set clear limits on political dynasties.
The majority of the 11 measures-mostly filed by House minority lawmakers-now pending before the 20th Congress aim to ban relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official from holding or running for any elective office, whether national or local, unless the incumbent official is ending his or her term within the same election year.
However, at least two versions of the bill-filed by the Akbayan and Makabayan blocs, respectively-seek a higher bar of the fourth degree.
Because of this, Adiong said he plans to hold public consultations ‘because we need the public to know and understand (what these measures are) and what is acceptable to them.’
‘This bill would not only change the political landscape, but it would also limit the choices of people who elect their leaders, so it would definitely have a bearing, effect, in every election,’ Adiong said. ‘So we need to go to the grassroots level.’
Apart from the anti-political dynasty and party-list reform bills, Mr. Marcos also wants prioritized measures strengthening the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, now investigating anomalous infrastructure projects, and the CADENA Act, which aims to put the budget process on the blockchain.