President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has prioritized legislation to curb political dynasties. The House approved a version of the bill last month while a stronger Senate counterpart remains pending.
House Bill No. 8389 passed the lower chamber but drew criticism for its limited scope. House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III said the measure reflected the maximum support possible in the chamber. He noted many lawmakers come from political dynasties and expressed doubt that the Senate would adopt the House text.
The Senate version authored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla extends restrictions to party list groups and blocks immediate succession by spouses or second-degree relatives. Analysts including Ona Caritos of Legal Network for Truthful Elections said the Senate text aligns more closely with constitutional intent.
A bicameral conference committee is expected to reconcile the two versions. Rep. Zia Adiong warned against drastic changes that could invite court challenges while Sen. Toby Tiangco urged stronger limits on family representation in the House.
