Palace to abide by Congress decision on anti-dynasty bill

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang will abide by whatever is Congress’ final decision in relation to the anti-dynasty bill, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma said yesterday.

“We would like to hear what our lawmakers have to say regarding this and what could be the final outcome of this anti-dynasty bill,” Coloma said in Filipino.

While he sees no problem that the bill had the unanimous approval of the panel of the House of Representatives - which seeks to ban relatives of incumbents up to the second degree of consanguinity from running in the same elections – it is also important to consider the lawmakers’ position, Coloma stressed.

“The basis is very clear, this is part of the reforms that have been initiated in the EDSA (I) People Power revolution that was included in the 1987 Constitution,” Coloma said.

He said an anti-dynasty law is one reform that people have long been waiting for, although it took quite a while – more than 26 years – before such controversial measure was passed, considering that most lawmakers belong to political clans.

Coloma said the administration of President Aquino supports the measure against political dynasties.

It was the first time that such a bill was passed in 12 years in Congress. The Constitution bans political dynasties but requires an enabling law to enforce it.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said earlier that he is in favor of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill but admitted the measure could face rough sailing in the House with a number of its members belonging to political clans.

“I’d like to make a stand... I’m in favor of it. I think we ought to be happy that it has passed a committee, it seeks to comply with a provision that is contained in the 1987 Constitution,” he said.

“We’ve advanced to a point where we have never advanced before, I think that’s already a positive achievement.”

Several members of the House have relatives who are in other elected or appointive posts.

Belmonte said that while he favors the bill, he would not pressure other lawmakers to support the landmark measure, as the House is a collegial body.

“I believe it will experience rough sailing but I could be wrong, we’ve put up a big stone in one day, and I think that is something to be happy about but it’s a long way (to final passage),” he said.

Belmonte said the chamber has over 280 members so it would be hard to predict how the measure would fare in the plenary.