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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
ut*’ r 
•>1-1-
24 JUL
iu;cfciV!-o 6"
2730
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT-
DEFINING AND PROHIBITING POLITICAL DYNASTIES, PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
A Harvard Academy research study in 2011 highlights how political dynasties 
become a product of the tendency of elites to persist and reproduce their power 
over time, undermining the effectiveness of institutional reforms in the process.
Based on an extensive dataset of our local elections from 1988 to 2019, 
evidence demonstrates that the number of governors with at least one relative in 
office (dynasty) increased by almost 39 percentage points, from 41% in 1988 to 
80% in 2019. The dynasty proportion of vice governors rose from 18% in 1988 to 
68% in 2019. Officials from municipalities and cities are not immune to this 
tendency. The percentage of mayors in the dynasty increased gradually from 26% in 
1988 to 53% in 2019. Only municipal and city councilors have kept their dynasty 
share below 25% since 1987. The dynasty share for councilors had only increased 
from 18% in 1988 to 23% in 2019.
Tusalem and Pe-Aguirre's (2013) study noted that while congressional funds 
are higher in areas with more political dynasties, these provinces also have higher 
rates of crime and poor governance, as well as lower spending on employment, 
infrastructure, and health care. Political dynasties, in effect, have exhausted 
resources to attain economic and political dominance while at the same time 
compromising political competition and undermining accountability.


Calls to stop the monopoly of political power remain unyielding. It is time to 
break the barriers preventing the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino 
people.
Looking at the political, social, and economic impact of political dynasties, it is 
undeniable that the framers of our Constitution missed the opportunity to define it 
and embody the same in our Constitution. To merely state our policy against political 
dynasties and leave it to Congress to pass an enacting law to breathe life into it is 
futile since members of the Legislature come from political dynasties.
Given that this measure complies with the legislature's mandate to enact an 
anti-political dynasty law and is a step towards leveling the playing field in politics 
and governance, the passage thereof is earnestly sought.
pOD PADILLA
Senator


^ 1. «I. <
-'iCffit* of Ini.' ■‘'
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2730
24 JUL 15
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
DEFINING AND PROHIBITING POLITICAL DYNASTIES, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as "The Anti-Political Dynasty
Law."
a.
Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. The following terms, as used herein shall mean:
Poiiticai Dynasty refers to the concentration, consolidation, or perpetuation of 
political powers by persons related to one another; 
b. Poiiticai Dynasty Reiationship refers to the situation where a person who is the 
spouse or a relative within the fourth 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 as 
party-list nominee, or occupies the same office immediately after the term of 
office of the incumbent elective official;
A political dynasty relationship shall also be deemed to exist where two (2) or 
more persons who are spouses or related to one another within the fourth civil 
degree of consanguinity or affinity run simultaneously for elective public office


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within the same city and/or province, or as nominees to any party-list, even if 
neither is so related to the incumbent elective official;
c. Fourth Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity refers to the relationship 
between two people who descend from a common ancestor and are four steps, 
or degrees, apart on a consanguinity chart, whether legitimate or illegitimate, 
full or half blood, including their spouses;
d. Spouse refers to the legal or common-law wife or husband of an incumbent 
elective official or candidate;
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); and
g. Holding an Elective Office refers to the period that commences from the 
moment the public official takes his or her oath of office.
Sec. 3. Applicability. This Act shall apply to the next elections and 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 limit as provided 
by law.
Sec. 4. Persons Covered; Prohibited Candidates. No spouse or person related 
within the fourth 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 city and/or province, or any party list 
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 
city and/or province where the former is domiciled or in any, including the same, 
national position.


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In the case of candidates who are not holding any public office but are within 
the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity but their election will result in a political 
dynasty relationship, the same is likewise prohibited. Provided, however, that the bona 
fide certificate of candidacy that was first filed will be recognized.
In all cases, no person who has a political dynasty relationship to the incumbent 
shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter.
Sec. 5. 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 is not among the prohibited candidates mentioned in the preceding section.
Sec. 6. Period for Filing of Petition for Disqualification. A petition to disqualify a 
candidate on grounds provided under this Act may be filed by any citizen of voting 
age, candidate or duly registered political party organization or coalition of political 
parties may file with the COMELEC, at any time after the last day for filing of 
certificates of candidacy and before proclamation.
Sec. 7. 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. 8. Effect of Violation of Prohibition. The COMELEC shall, motu propio or 
upon the filing of a verified petition by 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


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and second paragraphs of Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa 
Big. 881)
Sec. 9. 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. In case 
where the disqualified candidate has been proclaimed, the candidate shall ipso facto 
forfeit the right to assume the office.
Sec. 10. Rules and Regulations. The Commission on Elections shall, within thirty 
(30) days after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. If any part of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective.
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. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,