President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is urging the swift passage of what he described as the “best” version of a proposed law banning political dynasties, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President welcomed the measure’s progress in Congress and expressed hope it would advance further.
“Gusto niya po itong maipasa at natuwa nga po siya na umaandar po ito,” Castro told reporters.
“Ang nais lang po talaga ng Pangulo ay mapabilis at kung ano ang pinakamagandang batas para sa anti-political dynasty law. Iyan po ang nais ng Pangulo.”
Castro clarified that Marcos has not yet endorsed a specific version of the bill, noting that the final measure will undergo review once it reaches his desk.
“Pinag-aaralan kung second or fourth o depende po iyan sa magiging version,” she said.
“Ang Pangulo naman po ay pag-aaralan kung ano ang pinakamainam na version at tutal naman po ay manggagaling ito sa Kongreso.”
She also defended Marcos against criticism from Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Egay Erice, who claimed the President was merely posturing in declaring the measure a priority.
Castro insisted the President was serious.
“Ang nakakapagtaka po dito kay Congressman Erice parang lahat na lang ng kasalanan sa mundo isinisisi niya sa Pangulo. Trabaho po nilang gumawa ng batas kaya trabahuin niya po iyan kung anong gusto niyang version,” she said.
The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms recently approved a consolidated anti-dynasty bill principally authored by Speaker Faustino Dy III and House Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.
The measure prohibits spouses and relatives within the second civil degree—such as parents, children, siblings, and domestic partners—from simultaneously holding elective posts within the same district, province, city, municipality, or barangay.
Critics, including Erice and members of the Makabayan bloc, dismissed the approved version as “weak” or “watered down,” arguing that it merely regulates political dynasties instead of fully prohibiting them.