The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has set deliberations on proposed anti-political dynasty measures beginning Tuesday, January 27.
Committee chairperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong confirmed that 19 bills have been referred to his panel, with one more measure by Marikina City 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo awaiting referral after the congressional break.
“As Chairperson, I am fully committed to ensuring that the committee’s deliberations produce a version of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill that is effective, legally sound, and constitutionally compliant,” Adiong said.
He added, “We will harness the collective wisdom of our distinguished resource persons to craft a measure that genuinely promotes equitable political participation, upholds meritocracy, and strengthens Philippine democracy.”
The committee has invited former Supreme Court Chief Justices Reynato Puno and Artemio Panganiban, former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and former Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuña, alongside Commission on Elections chairperson George Erwin Garcia, Philippine Bar Association President Joseph Manolo Rebano, Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Allan Panolong, and 1986 Constitutional Commission members Christian Monsod and Wilfrido Villacorta. Law school deans, academics, and civil society representatives will also join the discussions.
Among the authors of the anti-dynasty bills are Representatives Antonio Tinio, Renee Louise Co, Jonathan Keith Flores, Marguerite del Mar, Bernadette Barbers, Mark Anthony Santos, Egay Erice, Leila de Lima, Sarah Jane Elago, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Roman Romulo, Kaka Bag-ao, Percival Cendaña, Jose Manuel Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula, Mauricio Domogan, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Lordan Suan, Raymond Adrian Salceda, Brian Poe, Edsel Galeos, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Arthur Yap, and Christopherson Yap.