EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC} 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E
S.B. No. _ _ _ 3 jCL
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ct tlK S3>rfr:tarp
•19 
JU L -1  
A10 5 4
Introduced by SENATOR LACSON 
RECE‘''‘.i.- i-'
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES
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. ”
While the State recognizes the pernicious effects of political dynasties, 
there is still no enabling law to prohibit its existence in the political arena. 
Influential clans and families that are well-entrenched in the political arena have 
made positions in government their virtual playgrounds, resulting in the 
proliferation of small monarchies all over the country. This makes a mockery of 
what should otherwise be a level-playing field in politics and espouse political 
inequities.
During 
the 
debates 
in the 
Constitutional 
Commission 
of 1986, 
Commissioner Sarmiento explained the rationale of prohibiting political dynasties;
“By including this provision, we widen the opportunities of 
competent, young, and promising poor candidates to occupy 
important positions in the government. While it is true we have 
government officials who have ascended to power despite accident 
of birth, they are exemptions to the general rule. The economic 
standing of these officials would show that they come from powerful 
clans with vast economic fortunes. ”
Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts to introduce an anti-political 
dynasty law as early as the 8th Congress to effect electoral reforms and level the 
political landscape. Congress failed to pass such a law.
This encumbrance can be attributed to the fact that many members of 
Congress came from politically dominating political clans. Over the years, they 
have successfully argued for the electorate’s right to choose their elected leaders 
using the oft-repeated principle that “sovereignty resides in the people and all 
government authority emanates from them”.


This proposed measure seeks to strike a balance between the two 
competing fundamental principles of electorate’s sovereignty and political 
dynasty. This Law is in consonance with the constitutional precept that laws 
should be interpreted not in the letter that killeth but to the spirit that vivifieth.
Hence, the proposed measure seeks to prohibit the 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, to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in 
the same election.
Furthermore, the bill also prohibits two or more persons who have political 
dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the 
same city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the incumbent public 
official.
The early passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
PANFtlLy) M. LACSON 
mator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
} 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
First Regular Session 
}
S E N A T E  
S .B .N o :_____ 3XL
l i £ ,
cl tlK Ch a i-iarp
'19 
JUL-1 
A10 54
Introduced by SEN A TO R LACSON
RECLl' 
^ -
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
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SECTION 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Anti-Political Dynasty 
Act of 2019”
SECTION 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, the State adopts a policy of prohibiting political dynasties as hereinafter defined to give 
force and effect to this policy and prevent the concentration of political power to a limited few.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms, as used herein shall mean:
1. Political Dynasty -  refers to the concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of 
political powers by persons related to one another.
2. Political Dynasty Relationship -  refers to the situation where a person who is the 
spouse or a relative witliin 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 relationship shall also be deemed to exist where two (2) or 
more persons who are spouses or related to one another within the second civil 
degree of consanguinity or affinity run simultaneously for elective public office


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within the same city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the incumbent 
elective official.
3. Second Civil Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity -  refers to the degree of 
relationship by blood or affinity of a person with his/her brother or sister, direct 
ascendant or direct descendant, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half 
blood, including their spouses.
4. Term Limits -  refers to the maximum term limits for elected public officials as 
provided for in the Constitution.
5. 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).
6. Holding an Elective Office -  refers to the period that commences from the 
moment the public official takes his or her oath of office.
SECTION 4. Applicability, - This Act shall be applicable to the next elections and to 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.
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 city and/or 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 city and/or province in the same election.


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In all cases, no person who has a political dynasty 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 the Commission on Elections. -  Any person running for 
any elective public office except that of a barangay official shall file a sworn statement with the 
COMELEC that he or she does not have a political dynasty relationship with any incumbent 
public official running for an elective public office in the same city and/or province other than 
the position earlier mentioned.
SECTION 7. Period for Filing 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 for filing of certificates of candidacy and before 
proclamation, a verified petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds provided for under Section 
5 hereof.
SECTION 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 receipt thereof by the losing party.
SECTION 9. Effect of Violation of Prohibition. -  The COMELEC shall, 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 and second paragraphs 
of Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Big. 881)
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 notwitlistanding the fact that he or she received the winning 
number of votes in the election.


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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 proceeding.
SECTION 11. Rules and Regulations. -  The Commission on Elections shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - 
If any part of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective.
SECTION 13. 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.
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,