Malacañang said Wednesday that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s support for an anti-political dynasty bill reflects the country’s shifting political climate and the public’s growing demand for accountability—marking a reversal from his 2022 campaign remarks.
At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro defended Marcos’ decision not to certify the bill as urgent, even as it stands among his priority measures alongside the proposed Independent People’s Commission, Party-List System Reform Act, and the CADENA transparency initiative.
“Unang-una po ito ay Congress at Executive na priority bills… malinaw ang mensahe ng pangulo,” Castro said, noting that urgent certification is only allowed for measures tied to public emergencies or calamities.
“Hindi naman ibig pong sabihin na sinertify as urgent ang isang bill ay hindi na po sinsero ang pangulo,” she added.
Lawmakers including Representative Leila de Lima (ML) and Representative Chel Diokno (Akbayan) previously questioned the lack of certification if Marcos was intent on passing the reforms.
Castro said the president’s updated position mirrors present political realities, contrasting his earlier campaign view that dynasties were not inherently harmful if voters chose freely.
“Naiiba na po iyong political landscape. Nakikita natin na mayroong mga umabuso na politiko… Public demands a fairer system,” she said.
Following Tuesday’s Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting, Marcos asked Congress to prioritize four key reform bills: the Anti-Dynasty measure, the Independent People’s Commission, the Party-List System Reform Act, and the Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act.
The anti-dynasty bill seeks to operationalize the 1987 Constitution’s mandate despite years of legislative deadlock over defining which degrees of consanguinity should be restricted. Marcos has also emphasized the need to restructure the party-list system, noting that more than half of its groups are tied to political clans.