UMVA has learned that a coalition of influential business and civic groups is urging lawmakers to reject a proposed bill aimed at curbing political dynasties, warning that it would ultimately entrench the power of these very families.
The groups, which include prominent organizations such as the Justice Reform Initiative and the Makati Business Club, have described the bill as a "pro-dynasty bill" that fails to address the issue of political dynasties in the Philippines. They argue that the measure, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives, would allow relatives to continue holding multiple elective positions and exchanging power within their families.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the groups believe that the bill is a step backward in the fight against political dynasties, rather than a meaningful reform. They claim that the measure would institutionalize the control of political families, undermining the very purpose of the 1987 Constitution's mandate to prohibit such dynasties.
The coalition has called on the Senate to reject the bill and has urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to veto it if it reaches his desk. They argue that the bill does not fulfill the Constitution's mandate to dismantle political dynasties, but instead protects their interests.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the groups are instead supporting the Dapat Isa Lang (One Only) campaign, a people's initiative that seeks to limit members of the same family to holding only one national and one local elective post at any given time. This campaign also aims to prohibit succession and the swapping of positions among relatives, providing a more robust solution to the problem of political dynasties.
The continued influence of political dynasties has significant implications for the country's democratic processes. With Congress yet to pass an enabling law defining and regulating such dynasties, the issue remains a pressing concern for reform advocates and the general public.
The coalition's efforts to raise awareness and push for meaningful reform highlight the ongoing struggle to address the entrenched power of political families in the Philippines. As the debate over the bill continues, one thing is clear: the fate of the country's democratic institutions hangs in the balance.
