Church-based groups issued a statement calling for limits on political dynasties to only two family members in elective positions, according to their joint declaration.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, and Caritas Philippines released a joint two-page statement urging the inclusion of specific provisions in the anti-political dynasty bills pending in Congress. The groups proposed limiting a maximum of two relatives per family to hold elective positions: one in a local office and one in a national position, without overlapping jurisdiction. They also recommended that close relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity should not be allowed to hold or occupy elective positions simultaneously or consecutively, while preserving the principle of separate local and national representations. The bills should eliminate avenues for circumvention such as substitution, rotation, or position-swapping to keep political opportunities open to new leaders. These restrictions would apply to party-list representatives to close loopholes used by political families to maintain influence. The groups noted that the 1987 Constitution mandates the prohibition of political dynasties, but nearly four decades later, it remains unimplemented. “It is no longer just a constitutional delay but a slow unmaking of the common good,” the statement read. Political dynasties distort public service by turning elective office into a hereditary privilege rather than a mission of responsibility. The groups called on civil society to stay vigilant and educational institutions to foster ethically and critically minded citizens. Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros described her nationwide consultations on the anti-dynasty measure as productive, highlighting nuances especially at the local level like barangays, where small populations make prevention challenging. She said it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but public support exists. The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms aims to pass the bill before the Lenten break on March 21. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Jose Rodel Clapano
