Senator Robin Padilla has introduced a resolution aimed at amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution to address the issue of political dynasties. As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Padilla filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 9 (RBH 9), which seeks to implement a specific ban on political dynasties, replacing the existing generic prohibition.
RBH 9 proposes to amend section 26 of Article II of the Constitution by imposing restrictions on the candidacy of relatives of incumbent national and local officials. The ban targets relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, including spouses and both legitimate and illegitimate relatives.
Key provisions include prohibiting:
- Relatives of the President, Vice President, Senators, or Party List Representatives from running for the same or any national elective positions.
- Relatives of incumbent local officials from running for any elective office in the same city or province.
- Relatives of local officials from running for party-list representative.
- Relatives of the President, Vice President, or Senators from running for local elective office in their domiciled city or province.
- Related persons within the 4th degree of consanguinity from running for any elective position in the same election, with only the first-filed certificate of candidacy being recognized.
Padilla emphasized that RBH 9 aims to make the anti-dynasty provisions self-executory, eliminating the need for enabling laws from Congress. He highlighted the inefficacy of current term limits in curbing political dynasties, as officials often shift to different offices or are succeeded by relatives.
“The term limits of elected officials outlined in the Constitution are not effective in curtailing the proliferation of political dynasties,” Padilla stated. He also pointed out the failure of Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law in the 37 years since the Constitution’s enactment.
Previously, Padilla filed Senate Bill 2730, another anti-dynasty measure, criticizing the framers of the 1987 Constitution for missing the opportunity to enforce a constitutional ban on political dynasties. Despite the absence of a comprehensive law, the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 already prohibits candidates with relatives up to the second civil degree who are incumbent elected officials from running.
