Manila: Senators on Tuesday pressed for electoral reforms aimed at restoring the original intent of the party-list system and passing a long-overdue law against political dynasties. At the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation hearing, Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III called for amendments to Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, saying its implementation has drifted away from its mandate under the 1987 Constitution.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sotto emphasized that over the years, the interpretation of the law on party-list has expanded its qualifications and deviated from the framers' intent, which was to genuinely represent the marginalized and underrepresented. He referred to his Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to limit the system back to the eight sectors originally envisioned-urban poor, farmers, senior citizens, fisherfolk, labor, youth, women, and indigenous people.
Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros advocated for the passage of an enabling Anti-Political Dynasty Law, highlighting that Congress has yet to define the scope of the constitutional ban. She questioned how a ban could be effective without a law clearly defining political dynasties and asked whether limitations apply to national positions or are confined to the same city or province.
Hontiveros pointed to studies indicating the rise of 'fat dynasties,' where two to three family members hold elective positions simultaneously, and 'obese dynasties,' where more than four relatives occupy posts at the same time. Senator Erwin Tulfo also underscored the need to address what he described as a 'constitutional gap,' noting that the provision against political dynasties is not self-executing, lacking a clear legislative definition.
The hearing also addressed three anti-dynasty bills filed by Senators Robinhood Padilla, Panfilo Lacson, and Francis Pangilinan, each proposing different restrictions on the relatives of incumbent officials, ranging from the second to fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity. The senators argued that the ongoing dominance of political dynasties has been associated with poverty and underdevelopment in the poorest provinces, as well as the weakening of checks and balances and political competition.
They also cautioned that without reforms, the party-list system could remain susceptible to abuse and diversion from its original purpose.
