Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 909 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACTDEFINING POLITICAL DYNASTY AND PROHIBITING THE 
ESTABLISHMENT THEREOF 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The enduring dominance of a select few families in wielding political power, commonly 
referred to as political dynasties, has long been a pressing concern in numerous democratic 
societies. This phenomenon undermines fundamental principles such as fairness, equality, and 
accountability in governance, as it perpetuates a system where access to political office is 
largely determined by family connections rather than merit or broad public support. 
Political dynasties typically arise when members of a family hold multiple political 
positions over successive generations, creating a significant influence over electoral politics 
and policymaking. These families often maintain control through a combination of name 
recognition, access to resources, and established networks of support. 
The impetus behind the passage of this legislation arises from the urgent necessity to 
address the detrimental impacts of political dynasties on the democratic process and societal 
well-being at large. By defining the concept of political dynasties and prohibiting their 
establishment, this law aims to dismantle entrenched systems of privilege and foster a more 
fair and balanced electoral landscape. 
The definition outlined in this legislation serves to clarify the parameters under which 
political dynasties operate, ensuring that the prohibition encompasses individuals within the 
second degree of consanguinity or affinity. This specification is designed to prevent the 
excessive concentration of political influence within closely knit family circles, thereby fostering 
greater diversity and representation in public office. 
In essence, the enactment of this measure signifies a meaningful stride towards 
advancing transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in governance. By curtailing the sway 
of political dynasties, our aim is to fortify democratic institutions, stimulate political competition, 
and ultimately, uphold the best interests of the constituents we are elected to serve. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. BERNADETTE S. BARBERS 
2nd District, Surigao del Norte 
July 1, 2025
3:04 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 909 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACT DEFINING POLITICAL DYNASTY AND PROHIBITING THE 
ESTABLISHMENT THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 
2025". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
guarantee equal access and opportunity to public office and service to the public. To 
achieve this objective, the State also asserts its policy to forbid political dynasties as 
hereinafter defined, with the aim of averting the consolidation of political authority in a 
select few individuals. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
shall be used: 
(a) "Political Dynasty" – refers to the concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of
public office and political power by persons related to one another.
(b) "Political Dynasty Relationship" – refers to the situation where a person who is the
spouse or a relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of an
incumbent elective official holds or runs for an elective office simultaneously with
the incumbent elective official within the same city and/or province or occupies the
same office immediately after the term of office of the incumbent elective official.
A political dynasty shall also be deemed to exist where two (2) or more persons
who are spouses or are related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or
affinity run simultaneously for elective public office within the same city and/or
province, even if neither is so related to an incumbent elective official.
(c) "Spouse" – refers to the legal or common law wife or husband of the  incumbent
elective official.


 
 
(d) "Second Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity" – refers to the degree of 
relationship by blood or affinity of a person with his/her brother or sister, direct 
ascendant or direct descendant, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, 
including their spouses. 
 
(e) "Term Limits" – refers to the maximum term limits for elected public officials as 
provided for in the Constitution. 
 
(f) "Running for an Elective Office" – refers to the period that commences upon the 
filing of the certificate of candidacy by a candidate with the Commission on 
Elections (COMELEC). 
 
(g) "Holding an Elective Office" – refers to period that commences from the moment 
the public official takes his or her oath of office. 
 
SEC. 4. Applicability. – This Act shall be applicable to the next elections and to all 
subsequent elections thereafter. In the case of incumbent elected officials who have 
political dynasty relationships with one another in the same city and/or province, they shall 
be allowed to run in all subsequent elections until they reach their term limits as provided 
by law.  
 
SEC. 5. Persons Covered; Prohibited Candidates. – No 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 shall be allowed to hold 
or run for any elective office in the same [municipality], city and/or province in the same 
election. 
 
In case the constituency of the incumbent elective official is national in character, the 
above relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same province where 
the former is a registered voter. 
 
In case where none of the candidates is related to an incumbent elective official within 
the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, but are related to one another within the 
said prohibited degree, they, including their spouses, shall be disqualified from holding or 
running for any local elective office within the same province in the same election. 
 
In all cases, no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to the 
incumbent shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter. 
 
SEC. 6. Statement with the Commission on Elections. – Any person running for 
any elective public office shall file a sworn statement with the COMELEC that he or she 
does not have a political dynasty relationship with an incumbent elective official running 
for an elective public office in the same city and/or province other than that of the position 
earlier mentioned. 
 


 
 
SEC. 7. Period for Filing Petition for Disqualification. – Any citizen of voting age, 
candidate or duly registered political party, organization, or coalition of political parties 
may file with the COMELEC, after the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy and 
before proclamation, a petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds provided for under 
Section 5 hereof. 
 
SEC. 8. Summary Proceedings. – The petition shall be heard and decided summarily 
by the COMELEC, after due notice and hearing, and its decision shall be executory after 
the lapse of five (5) days from receipt thereof by the losing party. 
 
SEC. 9. Effect of Violation of the Prohibition. – The COMELEC shall, upon the filing 
of a verified petition of any interested party, deny due course to any certificate of 
candidacy filed in violation of this Act and the votes cast for the disqualified candidate, if 
any, shall not be counted nor shall such candidate be proclaimed nor be qualified to 
assume office. 
 
Violation of this Act and the rules and regulations of the COMELEC issued to 
implement this Act shall also constitute an election offense punishable under the first and 
second paragraphs of Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batasang Pambansa 
Blg. 881). 
 
SEC. 10. Effect of Petition if Unresolved Before Completion of Canvass. – If the 
petition, for reasons beyond the control of the COMELEC, cannot be decided before the 
completion of the canvass, the votes cast for the respondent shall be included in the 
counting and canvassing: Provided however, that if the basis of such disqualification is 
strong, his or her proclamation shall be suspended notwithstanding the fact that he or she 
received the winning number of votes in the election.  
 
In the event a candidate disqualified under this Act shall have been proclaimed and 
has assumed office, his or her political dynasty relationship shall be a ground for 
disqualification in appropriate quo warranto or other proceedings. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulation. – The COMELEC shall promulgate 
the rules and regulation for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or 
part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
 
SEC.13. Separability Clause. – If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, all the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid 
and effective. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,