Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo._381

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 26 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."

According to a 2024 study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
(PC1J), political families continue to dominate the country’s political system. The report
revealed that 216 out of 253 district representatives, 71 of 82 governors, 113 out of 149
mayors, and 36 out of 54 party-list representatives are members of political dynasties.2

Political dynasties have long entrenched themselves within the Philippine political
landscape. These dynasties refer to families whose members wield significant political
and economic influence, often occupying elective positions either simultaneously or
successively. Over time, they tend to monopolize public offices, foster cronyism, and
undermine democratic institutions. Their continued dominance in politics perpetuates
poverty, suppresses citizen participation, reinforces systemic corruption, and degrades
public service standards.

Thus, this proposed measure seeks to clearly define what constitutes a political
dynasty, prohibit political dynasty relationships in holding clective positions, and enact
an anti-political dynasty law that fulfills the mandate set forth in the 1987 Constitution.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought

Philippine Constitution, 1987, art. II, sec. 26.

2G Latoza & M. Miranda, & in every /0 district reps belong to dynasties. More than half are reelectionists in 2025,
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, October 26, 2024


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 381
ee

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES
ey

AN ACT
DEFINING AND PROHIBITING POLITICAL DYNASTIES. PROVIDING PENALTIES
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be ut enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
ussembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "! he 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. Towards this end, it is
hereby declared the policy of the State to prohibit political dynasties as hereinafter defined.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms, as used herein shall mean

a. “Political Dynasty" shall refer to the concentration, consolidation and/or
perpetuation of political powers by persons related to one another within the second
degree of consanguinity or affinity.

b. “Political Dynasty Relationship” shall exist when the spouse or any relative within
the second degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent elective official, runs
for public office to succeed or replace the incumbent, or runs for or holds any
elective local office simultaneously with the incumbent within the same province,
legislative district and/or city/municipality, and within the same barangay and
barangays within the same legislative district.

The relationship also exists if the incumbent is a national elective official, and the
spouse or relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity run for any
Position in the national level or in the local level as mayor, governor or district
representative in any part of the country. It shall also be deemed to exist where two
(2) or more persons who are spouses, or are related to one another within the second
degree of consanguinity or affinity run simultaneously for elective public office at
the national level, or at the local level within the same province, legislative district
and/or municipality/city, and within the same barangay and/or barangays within the
same legislative district, even if neither is so related to an incumbent elective official;


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“Spouse” shall refer to the legal and common-law wife or husband of an incumbent
elective official;

“Second Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity” shall refer to the relatives of a
person who may be the latter's brother or sister, whether of full or half-blood, direct
ascendant or direct descendant, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, including
their spouses;

“Term Limits” shall refer to the maximum term limits for elected public officials as
provided for in the Constitution;

“Running for an Elective Office" shall refer to the period that commences upon the
filing of the certificate of candidacy by a candidate with the Commission on
Elections (COMELEC); and

“Holding an Elective Office” shall refer to the period that commences from the
moment the public official takes his or her oath of office.

SEC, 4. Applicability. - This Act shall govern and be applicable to the next elections and
all subsequent elections thereafter. In the case of incumbent elected officials who have political
dynasty relationship with one another at the national level and/or local level, they shall be
allowed to run in all subsequent elections until they reach their respective term limits as provided
for in the Constitution

SEC. 5. Prohibited Candidates;

Scenarios Covered. - Any person with political dynasty

relationship, as defined in Section 3 of this Act, with any incumbent elective official, shall not be
allowed to run for or hold public office in the following manner:

a.

b.

to succeed or replace the said incumbent:

If the incumbent is an elective barangay official, the spouse and the above relatives
are prohibited to run simultaneously for any position in the same barangay as well as
in all the barangays in municipalities/cities within the same legislative district;

If the incumbent is an elective official of the municipality/city, legislative district
and/or province, the spouse and above relatives are prohibited to run for or hold any
elective local office simultaneously with the incumbent within the same
municipality/city, legislative district and/or province;

If the incumbent is a national elective official, the spouse and the above relatives are
likewise prohibited to run simultaneously for any position in the national level or in
the local level as mayor, governor or district representative in any part of the country.
However, the spouse and said relatives may run for vice governor, vice mayor, or any
legislative councils at the provincial, city or municipal level; and

If the incumbent is a governor or district representative, the spouse and the above
relatives are also prohibited to run simultaneously for any position in the national
level

Persons who are not holding any public office shall likewise be prohibited from running
in the same election if their election will result in a political dynasty relationship. Provided,


however, that if the same elective position is involved, the bona fide certificate of candidacy that
was filed first will be recognized

SEC. 6. Statement with the Commission on Elections. - Any person running for any
elective public office shall file a swom statement with the COMELEC that he or she is not
among the prohibited candidates mentioned in the preceding section

SEC. 7. 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 of filing of certificate of candidacy and before proclamation, a
verified Petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds provided for in Section 5 of this Act

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 reccipt thereof by the losing party.

SEC. 9. Effect of Violation of Prohibition. - The COMELEC shall, motu proprio ot
upon a verified petition of any interested party, deny due course to any Certificate of Candidacy
filed in violation of this Act

SEC. 10. Effect if Petition is Unresolved Before Completion of Canvass. - If the
Petition for Disqualification has not been resolved before the completion of canvass, the votes
cast for the respondent shall be included in the counting and canvassing: Provided, however, if
the basis for disqualification is strong, the proclamation shall be suspended even if the
respondent is leading in the canvassing of votes.

If the candidate has been proclaimed, his or her political dynasty relationship shall be
grounds for disqualification in an appropriate quo warranto proceeding.

SEC. 11. Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall promulgate all the rules and
regulations necessary for the full implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
or part thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall remain valid and subsisting,

SEC. 14, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,