Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Egay Erice on Friday called on the Filipino electorate to break the cycle of electing members from the same political clans in the upcoming 2028 elections.
He argued that genuine systemic reform is impossible unless the public actively rejects entrenched dynasties.
The veteran lawmaker and Liberal Party stalwart emphasized that the duty to dismantle political monopolies does not lie with Congress alone, especially as debates over anti-political dynasty legislation persist.
“Kung gusto niyong magbago ang sistema natin, kung gusto niyong magbago ang buhay niyo, wag kayong boboto ng pare-parehong apelyido,” Erice said in a television interview.
Now 65, Erice acknowledged that he is approaching retirement and may not see a “true” anti-political dynasty law enacted within his career.
However, he remains committed to a four-decade-long advocacy, hoping the current discourse will enlighten the voting public.
“Kung hindi pa rin makakapasa ito, sana yung laban na ito ay makapagpamulat sa mga mamamayan,” he said.
While the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms recently approved a substitute bill consolidating 25 measures, the proposal has faced heavy criticism.
The current version limits the ban to relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity holding office in the same locality—a significant scale-back from earlier proposals involving the fourth degree.
The Makabayan bloc recently withdrew its support for the measure, labeling it a “watered-down” bill that risks institutionalizing dynasties through loopholes rather than dismantling them.