Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday clarified that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act will not prohibit friends or allies of political families from running for office.
Speaking in Marilao, Bulacan during the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation’s fourth consultative meeting, Hontiveros explained:
“Hindi po sakop ng kontra dinastiya bills ‘yung mga cronies dahil…hindi naman sila ‘yung tumatakbo at nanunungkulan,” she said when asked about the role of political allies.
She recalled that in a previous consultation, concerns were raised about political families possibly fielding “dummies” to run on their behalf.
“Pero hindi pa po sakop ‘yan ng panukalang batas,” she added.
Hontiveros assured that her committee secretariat and legislative team are consolidating inputs from consultations to craft a comprehensive committee report.
“Excited po kami to craft a committee report na pagsasama-samahin lahat itong mga inputs sa consultations at siyempre sa mga pagdinig, for the consideration of the committee members,” she said.
The Senate electoral reforms committee has already held consultations in Pasig City, Calamba, Laguna, and Bacolod, with the next leg scheduled in Cagayan de Oro this week.
Six anti-dynasty bills are pending in the Senate, all seeking to implement the 1987 Constitution’s mandate to prohibit political dynasties.
With the measure tagged as a priority of the Marcos administration, Hontiveros said the Senate is eyeing passage of its version before the end of March, ahead of the session break from March 21 to May 3.
She added that she has already coordinated with Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Adiong, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Panel.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano naman ang timetable ng House. Pero siyempre ang best case scenario ko…kung sabay kaming matapos ng aming versions at makapag-bicameral conference committee hearings, best case scenario, maipasa namin ang batas by next month para ipadala na sa Malacañang kung kanilang pipirmahan,” Hontiveros said.