The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Sunday the implementation of an anti-political dynasty law should begin at the local government level before extending the ban to national positions.
“Simplify for the time being, What is important, in my view, is to implement it simply,” Comelec chairman George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB, as he expressed support for the proposed measure.
Local elective government positions cover provincial governors down to the barangay. It was not clear from Garcia’s proposal if all elective posts are included in the ban.
He said it would be better if the country implemented the anti-dynasty law so that more people can run in elections.
“It is often said the concentration of political power at the local level is regressive,” Garcia added.
The measure cited by the poll chief calls for arelatively strict definition of political dynasties.
Garcia noted that the ban should cover up to the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
“This would prohibit relatives within the second civil degree from running in the same province or city. This includes parents and children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, spouses, and parents-in-law and children-in-law,” he explained.
This would cover both simultaneous and successive terms, he added.
Garcia also said the proposed law does not only ban family members from holding office at the same time. It may also prohibit them from taking turns in office such as father-to-son-to-spouse succession. It would apply within the same province or city.
“The goal is to prevent the concentration of political power within one family in a specific local government unit,” Garcia said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, has said essential points raised during the committee’s past five public consultations on the anti-political dynasty bill would be considered in drafting the committee report.
Several measures have been filed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking to implement the 1987 Constitution’s provision prohibiting political dynasties.
At the Senate, seven anti-dynasty bills are pending before the electoral reforms committee.
