Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Diliman, Quezon City

20 CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.1297

Introduced by: HON. MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution clearly states, “The State shall
guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit political dynasty, as may be
defined by law.” This provision reflects a clear intent to prevent the concentration
of political power within a few families and to uphold fairness in public service.

The influence of political dynasties is deeply entrenched. Once in office, elected
officials often propagate political machinery not only to ensure their own re-
election, but also to pave the way for their spouses, children, and other relatives
to assume public positions. This perpetuates family-based control over
government, reduces competition, and consolidates both political and economic
power in the hands of a few.

Such dynastic control has contributed to a political culture dominated by
patronage, where loyalty is rewarded over competence and access to public
resources is wielded for personal or familial gain. This undermines the core
principles of accountability, transparency, and equal opportunity in governance.

This bill seeks to break the cycle. By establishing clear prohibitions against
political dynasties, it aims to open public office to all qualified Filipinos,
regardless of name or lineage, and to strengthen our democratic institutions for
future generat)

MARK ANTHONY. SANTOS
Representative, Lone District of Las Pifias

SEN

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Diliman, Quezon City

20" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1297

Introduced by: HON. MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL
DYNASTIES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Anti-Political
Dynasty Act of 2025.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is 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 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.

$. 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 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.

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 Commission on Elections. — Any person
running for an 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
only upon verified petition of any interested party and after due notice and
hearing, deny due course to any certificate of candidacy filed in violation of this
Act.

SECTION 8. Period for Filing Petition for Disqualification. — Any
Filipino 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 disqualify a candidate on grounds provided for under Section 5 hereof.

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.

SECTION 11. Rules and Regulations — The COMELEC shall
promulgate the rules and regulations 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 after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.