TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
35
25 JUL-2 P5:17
Introduced by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "the state shall 
guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political 
dynasties as may be defined by law."
While the State recognizes the pernicious effects of political dynasties, there is 
still no enabling law to prohibit their existence in the political arena. Influential clans 
and families that are well-entrenched in the political arena have made positions in 
government their virtual playgrounds, resulting in the proliferation of small monarchies 
all over the country. This makes a mockery of what should otherwise be a level-playing 
field in politics and espouse political inequities.
During the debates in the Constitutional Commission of 1986, Commissioner 
Sarmiento explained the rationale of prohibiting political dynasties:
"By including this provision, we widen the opportunities of competent, 
young, and promising poor candidates to occupy important positions in 
the government While it is true we have government officials who have 
ascended to power despite accident of birth, they are exemptions to the


genera! rule. The economic standing of these officials would show that
they come from powerful dans with vast economic fortunes."
Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts to introduce an anti-political dynasty 
law as early as the 8th Congress to effect electoral reforms and level the political 
landscape, Congress failed to pass such a law.
This encumbrance can be attributed to the fact that many members of Congress 
come from dominating political clans. Over the years, they have successfully argued 
for the electorate's right to choose their elected leaders using the oft-repeated 
principle that "sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority 
emanates from them".
This proposed measure seeks to strike a balance between the two competing 
fundamental principles of the electorate's sovereignty and political dynasty. This is in 
consonance with the constitutional precept that laws should be interpreted not in the 
letter that killeth but in the spirit that vivifieth.
Hence, the proposed measure seeks to prohibit the spouse or person related 
within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or 
illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election, to 
hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in the same election.
Furthermore, the bill also prohibits two or more persons who have a political 
dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the same 
city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the incumbent public official.
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
PAN
. LACSON
nator


TWENnETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL-2 P5 -18
\
SENATE
s. No. 35
fire
Introduced by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short We. — This Act shall be known as "The Anti-Political Dynasty
2 
Act of 2025."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
guarantee equal access and opportunity to public office and service to the public.
5 
Towards this end, the State adopts a poiicy of prohibiting political dynasties as
6 
hereinafter defined to give force and effect to this policy and prevent the concentration
7 
of political power in a limited few.
8 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — The following terms, as used herein shall mean:
9 
a. Political Dynasty — refers to the concentration, consolidation, or perpetuation
10 
of political power by persons related to one another.
11 
b. Political Dynasty Relationship — refers to the situation where a person who is
12 
the spouse or a reiative within the second civii degree of consanguinity or
13 
affinity of an incumbent elective officiai holds or runs for an elective office
14 
simultaneously with the incumbent elective officiai within the same city and/or
15 
province or occupies the same office immediately after the term of office of the
16 
incumbent elective official.


1 
A political dynasty relationship shall also be deemed to exist where two (2) or
2 
more persons who are spouses or related to one another within the second civil
3 
degree of consanguinity or affinity run simultaneously for elective public office
4 
within the same city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the
5 
incumbent elective official.
6 
c. Second Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity — refers to the degree of
7 
relationship by blood or affinity of a person with his/her brother or sister, direct
8 
ascendant or direct descendant, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half
9 
blood, including their spouses.
10 
d. Term Limits— refers to the maximum term limits for elected public officials as
11 
provided for in the Constitution.
12 
e. Running for an Elective Office— refers to the period that commences upon the
13 
filing of the certificate of candidacy by a candidate with the Commission on
14 
Elections (COMELEC).
15 
f. Holding an Elective Office — refers to the period that commences from the
16 
moment the public official takes his or her oath of office.
17 
Sec. 4. Applicability. — This Act shall be applicable to the next elections and to
18 
all subsequent elections thereafter. In the case of incumbent elected officials who
19 
have political dynasty relationships with one another in the same city and/or province,
20 
they shall be allowed to run in all subsequent elections until they reach their term limit
21 
as provided by law.
22 
Sec. 5. Persons Covered; Prohibited Candidates. — No spouse or person related
23 
within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or
24 
illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election shall
25 
be allowed to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in
26 
the same election.
27 
In case the constituency of the incumbent elective official is national in
28 
character, the above relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same
29 
province where the former is a registered voter.
30 
In case where none of the candidates is related to an incumbent elective official
31 
within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, but are related to one another
32 
within the said prohibited degree, they, including their spouses shall be disqualified


1 
from holding or running for any local elective office within the same city and/or
2 
province in the same election.
3 
In all cases, no person who has a political dynasty relationship with the
4 
incumbent shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter: Provided, however,
5 
that this Section shall not apply to Punong Barangays or members of the Sangguniang
6 
Barangay.
7 
Sec. 6. Sworn Statement with the Commission on Elections. — Any person
8 
running for any elective public office except that of an elective barangay position shall
9 
file a sworn statement with the COMELEC that: (1) he or she does not have a political
10 
dynasty relationship with any incumbent public official running for an elective public
11 
office in the same city and/or province other than the position earlier mentioned; and
12 
(2) he or she is not related, within the said prohibited degree, to any candidate running
13 
for any local elective office within the same city and/province in the same election.
14 
Sec. 7. Period for Filing Petition for Disqualification. — Any citizen of voting age,
15 
candidate or duly registered political party organization or coalition of political parties
16 
may file with the COMELEC, after the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy and
17 
before proclamation, a verified petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds provided
18 
for under Section 5 hereof.
19 
Sec. 8. Summary Proceedings. — The petition shall be heard and decided
20 
summarily by the COMELEC, after due notice and hearing, and its decision shall be
21 
executory after the lapse of five (5) days from receipt thereof by the losing party.
22 
Sec. 9. Effect of Violation of Prohibition. — The COMELEC shall, upon the filing
23 
of a verified petition by any interested party, deny due course to any certificate of
24 
candidacy filed in violation of this Act and the votes cast for the disqualified candidate,
25 
If any, shall not be counted nor shall such candidate be proclaimed nor be qualified to
26 
assume office.
27 
Violation of this Act and the rules and regulations of the COMELEC issued to
28 
implement this Act shall also constitute an election offense punishable under the first
29 
and second paragraphs of Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa
30 
Big. 881).
31 
Sec. 10. Effect of Petition If Unresolved Before Completion of Canvass. — If the
32 
petition, for reasons beyond the control of the COMELEC cannot be decided before


1 
the completion of the canvass, the votes cast for the respondent shall be included in
2 
the counting and canvassing: Provided, however, that if the basis for such
3 
disqualification is strong, his or her proclamation shall be suspended notwithstanding
4 
the fact that he or she received the winning number of votes in the election.
5 
In the event a candidate disqualified under this Act shall have been proclaimed
6 
and has assumed office, his or her political dynasty relationship shall be a ground for
7 
disqualification in an appropriate quo warranto proceeding.
8 
Sec. 11. Rules and Regulations. — The COMELEC shall promulgate the
9 
necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
10 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. — If any part of this Act is held invalid or
11 
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective.
12 
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations
13 
or part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
14 
modified, or amended accordingly.
15 
Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
16 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
17 
Approved,