Sen. Robin Padilla Wants More Effective Measure to Stop Political Dynasty in PH
ROBIN PADILLA – The Senator filed an anti-political dynasty measure, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 9, and it sets specific limits.
The Philippines is one of the countries wherein political dynasties is highly-existent. It exists in both the national and local levels. Truth be told that there are also political families in the country who have two or more members holding key positions the government. In other cases, the same family holds a position for years and the position is passed along by different family members in a sequential manner.
For a long time now, the Philippine Constitution was unable to stop the existence of political dynasties in the Philippines. That is what Sen. Robin Padilla explained in his pursuit to put an end to the existence of political dynasty in the country.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the lawmaker wants amendments in the 1987 Philippine Constitution through the measure he filed, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 9. It aims the deletion the generic limitation on political dynasties in the country as “maybe defined by law” into a more specific ban in the following situations:
- Relatives of the President, Vice President, or Senators running for local elective office in the same city or province where the said officials are domiciled
- Relatives of the President, Vice President, Senators or Party List Representatives running for the same or any national elective positions
- Relatives of incumbent local officials running for party-list representative
- Relatives as mentioned in the proposal shall refer to spouses or persons related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood
- Relatives of incumbent local officials running for any elective office in the same city and/or province where the incumbent is elected
According to Sen. Robin Padilla who once hooked attention for his Jackie Chan attire in the Senate, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 9 seeks prohibitions of relatives of incumbent politicians in running for public office. Based on the report, the lawmaker stressed that the term limits in the Constitution are not productive in preventing political dynasties in the Philippine government.
Padilla explained that under the existing provisions in the Constitution, politicians whose political term is ending may choose to run for another position or another member in the family will run to replace him/her in the said position.
Sen. Robin Padilla heads the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments. In July, he also filed the Senate Bill 2730, an anti-political dynasty measure.