Miriam bill seeks to prohibit political dynasties

**Monseratto** · May 13th, 2011 01:19 PM

Naku, daming tututol diyan. Siguradong tulog 'to...

http://www8.gmanews.tv/story/218313/...ical-dynasties

KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News
04/20/2011 | 04:52 PM

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill which seeks to prohibit the establishment of political dynasties in the country.

"The playing field of the political arena should be levelled and opened to persons who are equally qualified to aspire on even terms with those from ruling politically dominant families," Santiago said in her exploratory note in Senate Bill 2649.

Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."

Since the ratification of the Charter, however, Congress has yet to pass an enabling law defining what "political dynasties" are prohibited.

SB 2649

SB 2649 says that no spouse or person related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking reelection shall be allowed to hold or run for any elective office in the same province in the same election.

The measure says "second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity" shall refer to the relatives of a person who may be the latter's brother or sister, whether of full or half-blood, direct ascendant or descendant, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, including their spouses.

If the incumbent official holds a national position, the bills says his or her relatives shall only be disqualified from running in the province where the official is a registered voter.

But if there are also candidates who are related in a similar prohibited degree, they shall also be disqualified from running for any local elective office within the same province and election.

SB 2648 likewise says that no person related by second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent official shall be allowed to immediately succeed the position of the latter, except for punong barangays or members of the sangguniang barangay.

It says that any citizen of voting age, candidate, duly-registered political party, organization, or coalition of political parties may file a petition to disqualify a candidate with the Commission on Elections, which shall hear and decide on the issue.

Previous bills

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño had also filed a similar bill, HB 3413, in the House of Representatives.

At least three similar bills were likewise filed during the 13th and 14th Congress. Among these are former senator and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim's SB 1317 (2004); Santiago's SB 1904 (2005); and Sen. Panfilo Lacson's SB 1468 (2007).

Lim and Santiago's bill did not even pass the committee level during the 13th Congress. On the other hand, Lacson's proposed measure remained pending on second reading until the 14th Congress adjourned its session. — RSJ, GMA News

**shadow** · May 13th, 2011 01:24 PM

sinong t*ngang magpapasa niyang? eh di parang inalis na nila sarili nila sa Pwesto.

**oliver1013** · May 13th, 2011 01:30 PM

Great bill, but in order to succeed, there must be civil war

**niky** · May 13th, 2011 01:31 PM

I vote for a public referendum on the matter. All those against the bill will be burned at the stake.

**Monseratto** · May 13th, 2011 02:00 PM

If the incumbent official holds a national position, the bills says his or her relatives shall only be disqualified from running in the province where the official is a registered voter.

Let's see, si Angara- asawa congresswoman, anak mayor. Si Cayetano- asawa mayor ng taguig. Si Revilla-asawa congresswoman. Si Villar-asawa congresswoman...add na lang kung I missed anyone...

**birdpoop** · May 13th, 2011 02:57 PM

Eto pa...

1 Abad Family (Batanes)
2 Abalos Family (Mandaluyong City)
3 Acosta Family (Bukidnon)
4 Adiong/Alonto Family (Lanao del Sur)
5 Agbayani Family (Pangasinan)
6 Albano Family (Isabela)
7 Ampatuan Family (Maguindanao)
8 Andaya Family (Camarines Sur)
9 Aquino Family (Tarlac/La Union)
10 Arroyo Family (Negros Occidental)
11 Asistio Family (Caloocan City)
12 Barbers Family (Surigao del Norte)
13 Binay Family (Makati City)
14 Cayetano Family (Taguig)
15 Cerilles Family (Zamboanga del Sur)
16 Cojuangco Family (Tarlac)
17 Crisologo Family (Ilocos Sur)
18 Cua Family (Quirino)
19 Cuenco Family (Cebu)
20 Datumanong Family (Maguindanao)
21 Del Mar Family (Cebu)
22 Dimaporo Family (Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur)
23 Dominguez Family
24 Duavit Family (Rizal)
25 Duremdes Family (Iloilo)
26 Dy Family(Isabela)
27 Escudero Family (Sorsogon)
28 Estrada Family (San Juan City)
29 Fajardo Family (Nueva Ecija)
30 Fuentebella Family (Camarines Sur)
31 Garin Family (Iloilo)
32 Gomez Family (Laguna)
33 Gordon Family (Zambales)
34 Imperial Family (Albay)
35 Jalosjos Family (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay)
36 Joson Family (Nueva Ecija)
37 Lacson Family (Negros Occidental, Manila)
38 Lapus Family (Tarlac)
39 Laurel Family (Batangas)
40 Ledesma Family (Negros Occidental)
41 Leviste Family (Batangas, Mindoro)
42 Lobregat Family (Zamboanga City)
43 Lopez Family (Iloilo)
44 Lucero/Caparroso Family (Northern Samar)
45 Magsaysay Family (Zambales/La Union/Batangas)
46 Marcos Family (Ilocos Norte)
47 Macapagal Family (Pampanga)
48 Mendiola/Siojo/Mercado Family (San Miguel, Bulacan, Pampanga)
49 Nepomuceno (Pampanga)
50 Mitra Family (Palawan)
51 Ortega Family (La Union)
52 Osmeña Family (Cebu)
53 Plaza Family (Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Cagayan)
54 Rama Family (Cebu)
55 Ramos Family (Asingan)
56 Recto Family (Batangas)
57 Remulla Family (Cavite)
58 Revilla Family (Cavite)
59 Roco Family (Camarines Sur)
60 Romualdez Family (Leyte)
61 Roxas Family (Capiz)
62 Santillan Family (Batangas, Cavite, Manila, Antique, Albay)
63 Sandoval Family (Palawan, Navotas)
64 Singson Family (Ilocos Sur)
65 Sumulong Family (Rizal)
66 Suplico Family (Iloilo)
67 Tañada Family (Quezon)
68 Ty Family (Surigao del Sur)
69 Villar-Aguilar Family (Las Piñas City)
70 Villarreal Family
71 Zubiri Family (Bukidnon)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...he_Philippines

**sgt_taga** · May 13th, 2011 02:58 PM

very good law proposal!

kaso almost impossible to implement.

**birdpoop** · May 13th, 2011 03:12 PM

^ in short, for pogi points lang yang proposal ni Brenda...

**ghosthunter** · May 13th, 2011 04:22 PM

Nice try ... but the dynasties are already intrenched in our political system that the proposed law will never pass.

Just a simple check of the people seated in government elected positions will show that this bill will never see the light of day.