Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday said an anti-political dynasty law banning relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity from running for public office would be “very challenging” to enforce, particularly for the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Adiong, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said the main issue surrounding the proposed measure is its practicability and enforceability.
“The enforceability issue aspect of that, should we decide on applying the fourth-degree civil consanguinity and affinity, to many including retired (Associate) Justice (Adolfo) Azcuna, would be very much challenging for the Comelec,” Adiong said in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.”
Despite the challenges, Adiong expressed optimism that the House can pass a version of the anti-dynasty bill acceptable to various sectors, especially since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified the measure as a priority.
House Speaker Faustino Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos are among the authors of House Bill 6771, one of 24 anti-political dynasty measures filed in the chamber.
Debate at the plenary is expected to begin in March, with Adiong anticipating lengthy discussions on the scope and limits of the proposed ban.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier said limiting the ban to the second degree of relationship would be more workable and noted that such restriction has been implemented in Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Under most pending proposals, relatives up to the second degree—parents, children, spouses, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and their in-laws—would be barred from running simultaneously in the same locality.
Some measures, however, seek to extend the prohibition to the fourth degree, which includes first cousins, great-grandparents, great-aunts or uncles, grand-nieces or nephews, and their in-law counterparts.
Adiong said verifying extended family ties, especially when relatives live in different regions, would pose logistical challenges for the Comelec.
“There will be cases where first cousins will be geographically separated, one will be probably living in Mindanao and the other cousin probably living in Luzon,” he said.
He also raised due process concerns, noting that the bill must clearly state when the Comelec can begin disqualification proceedings.
Citing the Supreme Court ruling in Lanot v. Comelec, Adiong said a person is considered a candidate only at the start of the campaign period, not upon filing a certificate of candidacy.
“When you disqualify a certain candidate by mere virtue of civil degree relationship, when would Comelec start to hold on to proceedings in order to disqualify a certain candidate?” he said.
He added that cases where siblings or relatives run against each other in the same locality would require careful rules on who, if any, should be disqualified.
“You cannot just simply disqualify one by mere reason of blood relation,” Adiong said.
The House committee has begun nationwide public consultations, launching the first hearing in Carmona, Cavite, attended by about 1,500 participants, including youth groups, barangay officials, non-government organizations, women’s groups, health workers and government employees.
Adiong said the consultations aim to ensure that the final measure reflects public sentiment and constitutional standards.
“Makakaasa po kayo na ang inyong mga pananaw ay magiging gabay sa aming patuloy na pagsisikap na makabuo ng isang Anti-Political Dynasty Law na makatarungan, balanse, at tapat sa ating Saligang Batas,” he said.
(You can count on your views to guide our continued efforts to create an Anti-Political Dynasty Law that is fair, balanced, and faithful to our Constitution. This is your opportunity to speak, and it is our duty, your representatives, to listen.)
Adiong stressed that reform would be meaningless without public participation.
“Hindi magiging makabuluhan ang anumang reporma kung hindi ito nakaugat sa tunay na karanasan at tinig ng mamamayan. Ang batas na ating mabubuo ay magiging bunga ng sama-samang pagninilay at pakikilahok ng sambayanan,” he added.
(Any reform will not be meaningful if it is not rooted in the real experience and voice of the people. The law that we will develop will be the result of collective reflection and participation of the people.)
The committee earlier conducted hearings on the proposal’s legal and constitutional foundations and consulted legal scholars, advocates and the Comelec.
