The Commission on Elections will implement a policy against political dynasty in the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act stated that SK candidates must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected.
Elections officials said candidates in the SK polls would be prohibited to run for office if he or she has a spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, siblings-in-law, grandparents-in-law, and grandchildren-in-law that are elected officials.
The Comelec urged the people to be vigilant and help the government ensure that no members of political dynasties will be able to run in the youth council polls.
“If anybody knows that they have relatives or family members elected, there is no stopping them from questioning the eligibility of a candidate. I think it would be better if anyone knew of any ineligibility to bring it to life,” said Comelec spokesperson James Arthur Jimenez.
He said filing a petition against a particular candidate as soon as possible would be the best way to prevent more political dynasties.
On Saturday, aspiring candidates and reelectionists would start filing their certificates of candidacy for the May 14 Barangay and SK elections.
The elections will mark the first time that the SK Reform Act of 2015 will be implemented.
“We have no choice but to accept the COCs. But that will be the best time for people to contest it immediately, instead of still delaying it,” said Jimenez.
He said voter vigilance is necessary since the Comelec will be unable to check all SK candidates and if they are part of any political dynasties.
“Considering that there are 42,000 barangays, can you imagine the kind of checking you need to do? You’re looking at one SK chairman and seven SK kagawads per barangay. How many hours will you need to check? It’s not practical,” said Jimenez.
Those who will file COCs will have to declare it under oath the assurance “that aspirant is not related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected.”
“That’s what gives us jurisdiction in case a complaint is filed,” said Jimenez.
Aside from being disqualified as an SK bet, Jimenez said they may also face perjury as well as an election offense for submitting a false or spurious COC.
The government’s consultative committee recently voted in favor of inclusion to the propose Federal System of government a self-executing anti-dynasty provision that will cover politicians’ relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity.
In 2015, some lawmakers re-introduced the measure but had a hard time pushing the proposed measure (or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act).
One of the proponents — Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice — revealed that 180 of the 291 members of the House of Representatives will be affected if public office is limited to only one member of the family.
Erice explained that the dominance of entrenched family clans in politics and the economy should be reduced in order to make politics and economics more transparent and competitive.