'Historic moment': House body OKs anti-political dynasty bill

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reform approved on Wednesday an anti-political dynasty bill for the first time in at least over a decade.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, one of the principal authors of the consolidated Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2013, described the House panel's unanimous approval of the measure as "historic" and a "major move forward."

"[T]oday is a historic moment sa anti-dynasty struggle if only because, for the first time ever pumasa sa komite ang isang anti-dynasty bill. So this is the first base," Colmenares said in a press conference, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits.

The measure, which will now undergo plenary debates, aims to prohibit two or more people related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to hold or run for national or local positions in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms.

Colmenares said he is hopeful that Filipinos will able to go to their respective lawmakers to  push for the approval of the bill on third reading.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also described the bill's approval as "historic" since such measure has been filed since the 12th Congress.

He also hopes that those who fought for the abolition of the pork barrel system will also mobilize for the approval of an anti-dynasty measure.

"I hope that the momentum that we have in relation to the struggle against the pork barrel system will be translated into the popular support as well as for the passage of the anti dynasty bill," he said in the same press conference.

If the bill is passed, it will serve as an enabling law of the Constitutional provision against political dynasties, which state that "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."