THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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“93 21-q 30 p 5 : 1 g 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 26 of Article I I  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” 
Dynasties in Philippine politics have thus far flourished and 
proliferated in response to the term limits on public office. To circumvent 
these term limits, politicians try to field their relatives to run for public office 
in their stead. Hence it is common that a politician has his wife, child, 
brother or sister running and holding on to his office, while he awaits the 
mandatory prohibition regarding his seeking reelection to pass. 
This bill addresses the absence of a law implementing the 
constitutional prohibition on political dynasties. It defines political dynasty 
as an election offense and mandates the Commission on Elections to 
u n d e rt‘a ke the a p p ro p ria te act ion . 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
SERGIO OSMEKIA 
111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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”J/; 
L- 
I-.. ’ j 
30 
IS 5 :I 6 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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$ ; , - t ’  tvE2 3y:--- 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 
1. Purpose and Objective. - It is the purpose and 
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objective of this Act to translate into the practical realities of Philippine 
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politics the State policy enunciated in Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 
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Constitution to “guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service 
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and prohibit political dynasties” (Articled I I ,  Section 26) and the mandate to 
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Congress in Article XIII, Section I thereof to enact “measures that ... 
reduce social, economic and political inequalities and remove cultural 
inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common 
good”. 
SEC. 2. Applicability. - This Act shall govern and be applicable to 
the next elections and to all subsequent elections to be held thereafter. 
SEC. 3. Political Dynasty Defined, - As used in this Act, a political 
dynasty is a SITUATION RESULTING IN the concentration, consolidation 
or perpetuation of political power by persons related to one another, as 
defined in this Act BY HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE. 
SEC. 4. DYNASTIC RELATION, DEFINITION. - A DYNASTIC 
RELATION EXISTS BETWEEN persons who are related within the 


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FOURTH civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, including their spouses 
and the spouses of their brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law (bilas) shall be 
deemed within the political dynasty relationship prohibited under this Act. 
.DYNASTIC RELATION ALSO EXISTS WHEN AN INCUMBENT 
OR A CANDIDATE LIVES WITH ANOTHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE 
WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A VALID MARRIAGE, THE EXISTENCE 
OF WHICH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING DYNASTIC 
RELATION, SHALL BE ASCERTAINED BY THE COMMISSION ON 
ELECTIONS IN A SUMMARY PROCEEDING. 
Neither may such family member be elected to or assume the 
position of President, Vice-president, Senator, Congressman Governor, 
Vice-Governor, City Mayor or City Vice-Mayor, or Municipal Mayor or 
Municipal Vice-Mayor WHEN THE CANDIDACY, ELECTION OR 
ASSUMPTION OF SUCH FAMILY MEMBER FALLS WITHIN THE TERM 
OF OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT OR SENATOR. 
No family member shall be a candidate for the office of the 
President, Vice-president, Senator, Congressman, Governor, Vice- 
Governor, City Mayor or City Vice-Mayor, or Municipal Mayor or Municipal 
Vice-Mayor in the same elections in which another family member within 
the Pblitical Dynasty Relationship is a candidate for President, Vice- 
President, or Senator. 
No family 
member HAVING DYNASTIC RELATIONS TO 
CONGRESSMAN, PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, PROVINCIAL VICE- 
GOVERNOR, CITY OR MUNICIPAL MAYOR, OR CITY OR MUNICIPAL 
VICE-MAYOR SHALL BE ALLOWED TO BE A CANDIDATE TO be 
elected to or assume any elective position within the same district, 
province, city of municipality, WHEN THE CANDIDACY, ELECTION OR 
ASSUMPTION OF SUCH FAMILY MEMBER FALLS DURING THE TERM 
OF OFFICE OF THE CONGRESSMAN, PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, 
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PROVINCIAL VICE-GOVERNORl CITY OR MUNICIPAL MAYOR, OR 
CITY OR MUNICIPAL VICE-MAYOR. 
NO family member SHALL be a candidate for any public office in 
the same district, province, city or municipality in the same elections, in 
which another family member within DYNASTIC RE-LATION is a 
candidate for Congressman, Governor, VICE-GOVERNOR or Mayor OR 
VICE-MAYOR. 
SEC. 5. Rejection and Cancellation of Cerfificates of Candidacies. 
- Any certificate of candidacy that is presented to the Commission on 
Elections in violation of this Act shall not be given due course and if, filed, 
shall be cancelled and the votes cast for the disqualified candidate shall 
not be counted, nor shall be proclaimed or be qualified to assume office. 
In the event that two or more disqualified family members having a 
Political Dynasty Relationship should file their bona fide certificates of 
candidacy for the subordinate and lesser elective positions shall be 
rejected. 
Whenever it cannot be determined with accuracy which application 
was filed first, the Commission on Elections shall supervise the drawing of 
lots to decide whose certificate of candidacy shall be accepted. 
SEC. 
6. 
€LECT/ON OFFENSE. - THE COMMISSION ON 
ELECTIONS MAY MOTU PROPRIO OR UPON VERIFIED PETITION OF 
ANY AGGRIEVED RELATIVE FALLING WITHIN THE DYNASTIC 
RELATION, MAY REFUSE TO GIVE DUE COURSE TO OR CANCEL A 
CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY IF 
IT IS 
SHOWN THAT SAID 
CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FILED TO PREVENT OR DISQUALIFY SUCH 
AGGRIEVED RELATIVE FROM BECOMING A CANDIDATE, BEING 
ELECTED TO OR ASSUMING THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT, VICE- 
PRESIDENT, 
SENATOR, 
CONGRESAN, 
GOVERNOR, 
VICE- 
GOVERNOR, CITY OR MlNlClPAL MAYOR, OR CITY OR MUNICIPAL 
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VICE-MAYOR. 
ANY 
VIOLATION 
OF THIS 
PROVISION 
SHALL 
CONSTITUTE AN 
ELECTION 
OFFENSE 
UNDER THE 
BATAS 
PAMBANSA BLDG. 881, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE OMNIBUS 
ELECT ION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
SEC. 
7. 
[6] lrnplernenting Rules and Regulations. - The 
Commission on Elections shall promulgate the rules and regulations for 
the implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 8. [7] Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, letters of instructions, and other issuances or parts thereof which 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed 
amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 
9. 
[8] Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its 
a p p rova I 
Approved, 
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