THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Philippine elections through the years have been observed as 
"personality-based" and not based on platform of government and political 
ideology. This is due to the penchant of most political candidates of switching 
party affiliations and loyalty as if it were a used garment to be discarded if it no 
longer suited the political ambitions of the candidate. This has the effect of 
subserving the political agenda and platform of government of a party to that of 
the individual aspirations of any single candidate. 
This proposed legislative measure then seeks to prohibit political 
turncoatism in Philippine politics. 
Immediate passage of this bill is thus earnestly recommended. 
RCITO ESTRADA c 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 
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S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING POLITICAL TURNCOATISM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Declaration ofpolicy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
allow a free and open party system to evolve according to the free choice of the people. 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terns. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
a) 
b) 
POLITICAL PARTY - refers to an organized group of persons pursuing 
the same ideology, political ideas or platforms of government, and 
includes its branches and divisions, duly registered with and/or 
accredited by the Commission on Elections. 
POLITICAL TURNCOATISM - refers to the change by any elective 
public officer of the political party under which he was elected, in favor of 
another political party, from the time of his election up to the last six (6) 
months prior to the expiration of his term of office. It shall also refer to 
the change by a candidate of his political party affiliation following an 
election. 


c) 
CANDIDATE - includes not only one who has filed his certificate of 
candidacy, but likewise those who aspire for or seek an elective public 
office who have publicly announced the same, or who have, through 
analogous acts, openly manifested their desire to seek an elective public 
office, whether or not they have filed a certificate of candidacy. 
EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF OFFICE - refers to the period for 
which the public officer may hold an office as a matter of right. 
d) 
SEC. 3. Prohibition. - In order to preserve the will of the people voiced through 
the election of candidates representing various political parties, political turncoatism is 
hereby expressly prohibited. 
SEC. 4. Penalties. - Any person, who is found guilty of political turncoatism by 
the Commission on Elections after due notice and hearing, shall be disqualified from 
running for any elective position on any election immediately following the expiration 
of his term of office. If the public officer has already been elected, he shall not be 
allowed to assume office. 
Furthermore, said person shall likewise be disqualified from being appointed to 
any public office, or to any Government-Owned or Controlled Corporation (GOCC) 
within a period of one (1) year from the date of the election from which he was 
disqualified to participate. 
Any person who shall be found guilty of political turncoatism, after due notice 
and hearing by the Commission on Elections, shall also be disqualified from being 
appointed to any public office, or to any GOCC within one (1) year from the date of the 
election. 


SEC. 5. Freedom of Association. - Notwithstanding the prohibition, the right of 
an elective public official to resign from his political party remains provided that he will 
not join any other political party until the last six (6) months prior to the expiration of 
his term of office. 
SEC. 6. Excqtions. - This Act shall not be applicable to candidates who have 
filed their certificate of candidacy as an independent candidate or as a candidate 
belonging to a coalition of political groups not registered with and/or accredited by the 
Commission on Elections. 
SEC. 7. Implementing R& s and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections 
shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the OfJicinl Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,