The House of Representatives is preparing a committee report on the anti-royalty bill, which passed in July

AN ORGANIZATION that represents the Parliament is finalizing the report of its committee that will include 24 bills that seek to curb the political monarchy, where members of Parliament intend to pass this measure before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivers the Fifth State of the Nation Address in July.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong, who heads the Electoral Amendments and Reforms Committee, said the panel is drafting a replacement bill that will consolidate various measures into one proposal.

“There are 24 types, so we are in the process of putting this bill together, so that we can come up with a unified bill that will be the subject of our committee’s report next week,” he told a live briefing.

The effort renews a long-standing push to implement a constitutional provision that directs Congress to prevent political generations and ensure equal access to public service opportunities. Almost forty years after the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, no enabling law has been enacted.

Mr. Adiong said the committee wants to approve its report before Congress adjourns on March 20. Meetings will resume on May 4.

Once the report reaches the forum, expect heated debates.

“It will not be accepted as our colleagues are doing it,” he said, pointing to divisions over how widely the ban should be applied.

The key issue is the level of convergence or correlation to be addressed. Several House bills propose barring relatives up to the second degree from running for or holding government office at the same time, while others seek fourth-degree restrictions.

“There are about 16 or 17 bills that propose level two bans, some are level four,” said Mr Adiong.

The committee assesses what level of social relations should constitute a legitimate definition of political sovereignty.

Mr. Adiong cited existing precedents, including provisions in the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act and the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which impose restrictions up to the second level in certain circumstances.

“Our basis is the principles that already exist, although they cannot be used throughout the country,” he said.

The Senate has developed its own proposal. The Electoral Reforms Committee of the Chamber’s Committee presented a report to the plenary this week seeking to prevent relatives up to the second degree of association or relationship from holding public office simultaneously or on the same terms.

Under Senate Bill No. 1901, relatives or associates shall be prohibited from holding concurrent or concurrent terms in national and local offices, and from holding office in all party-list parties and in elected positions.

It also prevents immediate succession, preventing a spouse or relative from taking over immediately after the tenure of an existing family member.

The bill authorizes the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to revoke the certificate of candidacy of persons found to be part of a political dynasty or those who deliberately conceal such relationships. All applicants must submit sworn declarations stating that they are not in a prohibited relationship.

Concealment of information, falsification of documents, malicious filing, coercion or resignation established to enable relatives to run for election shall be considered election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code. In cases where many relatives apply for the same position and no one voluntarily withdraws, the Comelec may use drawing lots.

Businesses and civil society have argued that limiting the ban to the second level may be too narrow and fall short of the Constitution’s intent. They urged lawmakers to use broader restrictions to crack down on entrenched political families.

Mr. Adiong rejected claims that the second-tier limit would be weakened.

“We have no room to say that it will be a weak law,” he said. “What we are trying to achieve here is to have a measure against political monarchy that will work.”

The debate comes as curbing political tyranny is listed among the key measures of the administration under the Legislative Development Advisory Council.

Efforts to pass this law have repeatedly stalled in Congress where political families have played a major role. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism estimated that about eight out of 10 lawmakers are members of political parties, underscoring the political sensitivity of the proposal.

Whether the latest push will overcome decades of debate may depend on how lawmakers balance constitutional intent with political realities when the bill reaches the House floor. – Adrian H. Halili