SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
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I 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _::.:::c1_9_O_6 __ 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G, EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution under Article II, Section 26 expressly 
provides: "The State shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit 
political dynasty as may be defined by law. " 
Social reform is the evident agenda behind this provision and the 
objective is clear. The extended family system, an otherwise beneficial concept 
when applied to the social aspects of human behavior, has found its pernicious 
effects in the political arena where public office has become the exclusive 
domain of influential families and clans. Such families have become so well-
entrenched in Philippine politics they have monopolized political power and 
public resources at all levels of government. 
Once a politician is elected to public office, he or she immediately builds 
a strong political base to ensure not only his or her re-election but also that 
such electoral support will extend to one's spouse or descendants or next of kin. 
These elected officials secure and consolidate their economic interest by 
perpetuating their families or clans in public office - indeed, making a dynasty 
out of public service. This situation is characteristic of the patronage system of 
politics that hinders the development of the country. 
A report by the United Nations Development Programme written by 
Temario Rivera revealed that of the 77 provinces included in the study, 72 
I 
provinces or 94 percent have political families. Further, the average number of 


political families per province is 2.31, meaning there are at least two political 
clans in most of the provinces. According to Temario, since the restoration of 
elections in 1987, most dominant political families have succeeded in winning 
gubernatorial and congressional races. 
The socio-economic and political inequities prevalent in Philippine 
society limit public office to members of ruling families. In many instances, 
voters, for convenience and out of cultural mind set, look up to these 
economically and politically dominant families as dispensers of favors, material 
and otherwise, and tend to elect relatives of these politically dominant families. 
As a means to give force and effect to the social justice provisions of the 
Constitution which provides for the diffusion of economic and political 
influence, it is necessary that the political arena be leveled by opening public 
office to persons who are equally qualified to aspire on even terms with those 
from politically dominant families. 
In light of the foregoing, this bill is hereby proposed to give real teeth to 
the Constitutional mandate and strengthen the call for new politics to lay the 
basis of greater empowerment for the greater number of Filipinos. 
\ 
~., 
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. __ 
,,-1~9~O~6 __ 
'13 
N(J~ -5 P 5 :34 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic 
of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Anti-Political 
Dynasty Act of 2013." 
SECTION 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. Towards this end, it is likewise declared the policy of the State to 
prohibit political dynasties as hereinafter defined. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms, as used herein, 
shall mean: 
1. 
Political Dynasty - The concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of 
public office and political power by persons related to one another. 
2. 
Political Dynasty Relationship - Exists when a person who is the 
spouse of an incumbent elective official 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. 
3. 
Spouse - Shall refer to the legal or common law wife or husband of the 
incumbent elective official. 
4. 
Second Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity - Shall include the 
relatives of a person who may be the latter's brother or sister, direct ascendant 
or direct descendant, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half· blood, 
including their spouses. 
5. 
Term Limits - Shall mean the maximum term limits for elected public 
officials as provided for in the Constitution. 
6. 
Running for an Elective Office - Shall be deemed to commence upon 
the filing of the certificate of candidacy by a candidate with the Commission on 
Elections (COMELEC). 
7. 
Holding an Elective Office - Shall be deemed to commence from the 
moment the public official takes his or her oath of office. 
SECTION 4. Applicability. - This Act shall govern and 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 cityand/or province, they shall be allowed to run in all 
subsequent elections until they reach their term limit as provided by law. 
SECTION 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 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: Provided 
however, that this Section shall not apply to Punong Barangays or members of 
the Sangguniang Barangay. 
SECTION 6. Statement with the Commission on Elections. - Any 
person running for any elective public office except for that of Barangay official, 
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. 
SECTION 7. Effect of Violation of Prohibition. - The COMELEC shall, 
motu propio or upon 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 and deemed not 
counted nor shall such candidate be proclaimed nor be qualified to assume 
office. 
SECTION 8. 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 
disqualif'y a candidate on grounds provided for under Section 5 hereof. 


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'. 
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. 
SECTION 9. 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. 
SECTION 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 for 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: Provided further, that in 
cases where disqualified candidate has been proclaimed he or she shall ipso 
facto forfeit his or her right to the office. 
SECTION 
11. Rules and Regulations. -
The COMELEC shall 
promulgate the rules and regulation for the implementation of the provisions of 
this Act. 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. -
All laws inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provisions 
of this Act is held invalid, all the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain valid. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - 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.