Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains committed to enacting an anti-political dynasty law despite not mentioning the measure during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Malaca±ang said Wednesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the clarification after observers noted that the proposed legislation, previously identified by the administration as a priority measure, was absent from the President's legislative agenda during his penultimate SONA on Monday. Castro said Marcos' position on the measure has not changed.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos still aims to have the anti-political dynasty bill enacted during his term. 'Opo, iyan pa rin po ang nais ng Pangulo, na maipasa sa panahon niya at sa kaniyang administrasyon itong anti-political dynasty bill (Yes, the President still wants the anti-political dynasty bill to be enacted during his term and under his administration),' she said during a Palace press briefing.
She added that the Palace is awaiting developments in Congress, particularly in the Senate, where deliberations on the proposed measure are still pending. 'Hintayin na lang po natin kung papaano at hanggang kailan ito magkakaroon ng bicam dahil sa ating pagkakaalam ay ang Senado po yata ang kinakailangan pang may tapusin patungkol diyan (Let us wait and see when it will reach the bicameral conference committee because, as far as we know, the Senate still has to complete its action on the measure),' Castro said.
The 1987 Constitution directs Congress to prohibit political dynasties 'as may be defined by law,' but no enabling legislation has been enacted nearly four decades later. Various anti-political dynasty bills have been filed in both chambers of Congress over the years, proposing limits on immediate family members simultaneously holding or succeeding one another in elective public office, but none has become law.
