The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed its hope that an anti-dynasty law could be passed before the end of 2026, providing sufficient time for clarification of its provisions. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia made this statement during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, where he voiced support for the proposed measure. Garcia emphasized that passing the law by year-end would facilitate implementation, stating, 'Si Comelec sumusuporta sa isang batas na magpapatupad ng prohibisyon on political dynasty. Ang pinakausap namin ay sana huwag naman lalampas ng katapusan ng taon sa pangkat napakahirap mag-implement,' which translates to 'Comelec supports a law that would prohibit political dynasties. We hope that could be passed by the end of the year, as it would be very difficult to implement.' The Commission has identified several provisions requiring clarification, including whether the prohibition will cover national or local positions, include appointed officials, and whether it will apply to party-list groups. Garcia noted that a second-degree relationship would be easier to identify, considering potential instances involving illegitimate relationships. The filing of candidacy for the 2028 national and local elections is scheduled from September 20 to 26, 2027. Earlier, the Dapat Isa Lang Coalition launched an online signature campaign to enact a genuine anti-political dynasty law, seeking to prohibit political dynasties up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity. This would allow only one family member to hold a national elective office and only one to hold a local elective office at a time. The Supreme Court has directed Congress to enact an anti-political dynasty law at the earliest opportunity, citing its 39-year failure to do so as a grave abuse of discretion. In June, the House of Representatives passed an anti-political dynasty bill banning relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or occupying a post in the same constituency or jurisdiction on final reading.

The Makabayan bloc has raised concerns that the pending antidynasty bill in the Philippine Congress does not fully comply with a Supreme Court directive aimed at preventing relatives from holding publ… · Photo : Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA · Flickr

That famous quote, “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change,” which comes from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel “The Leopard” (Il Gattopardo), was spoken by the

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE. . . The House of Representatives voted 267-20-7 on June 3 to adopt a version of the antidynasty bill that critics say will barely disturb the status quo. (First of two