Originally intended to fulfill the constitutional mandate against political monopolies, several lawmakers have officially withdrawn their support for the proposed substitute Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, slamming it as “watered down” and legitimizing dynastic rule rather than prohibiting it.
The bill has come under fire from governance advocates who argued that its provisions are merely regulatory and failed to address the root causes of corruption.
Stand in Opposition to Plunder (STOP) Corruption Alliance Convenor Leo Fuentes noted that political dynasties diminish accountability and create environments prone to corruption, pointing out that regions dominated by such clans often suffer from high poverty incidence and poor educational outcomes.
“For the past decades, [the] Philippine society witnessed how dynasties evolved from thin, to fat and to obese, and also reflects on the state of Philippine governance: in communities dominated by political dynasty, poverty incidences are high.”
He also warned that passing the bill in its current form would dangerously tolerate political dynasties rather than banning them outright.
“It will set a very dangerous precedent… [it] will only tolerate political dynasties rather than invoking the absolute prohibition of [them]. Robust democracy cannot co-exist with political dynasties,” Fuentes stated.
BAYAN Southern Mindanao Regional Coordinator Rauf Sissay remarked that its limited prohibition only reaches the second degree of consanguinity or shared descent, contrasting it with the MAKABAYAN bloc’s version, which forbids officials from the same clan to run up to the fourth degree.
“Ang mga author at backer ng current House version ay sina House Speaker Bojie Dy at House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, na mga miyembro din ng political dynasties respectively. Ipinagbabawal [ng House Bill 209] ang sabay-sabay at sunod-sunod o halinhinang pagtakbo ng mga miyembro ng isang pamilya o clan sa iba’t ibang level o antas. Meanwhile, the substitute bill will just preserve the status quo—walang pundamental na mababago.”
The regional coordinator emphasized that political dynasties focus on their own interests and those of their associates, which ultimately worsens “patronage politics” and neglects marginalized communities.
“Their supposed projects will mainly focus on areas that will benefit their close allies and associates. Hindi lahat ay magkakaroon ng pakinabang o serbisyo. Mapapabayaan ang pagpapaunlad ng kalagayan ng mga maralita at mga komunidad na nasa laylayan ng lipunan.”
Fuentes concluded that while legislative reforms are necessary, the task of advancing good governance remains with the people through education and mobilization.
“As an advocate for good governance, we do not have illusions that these dynasts will give up their posts easily. Thus, it is the task of the people to study more on democracy and mobilize against political dynasties and advance good governance—a government from the people and for the people.”
Based on the candidate filing for the 2025 elections, 113 out of 149 cities were ruled by political dynasties, with 80 incumbent mayors seeking re-election in 2028.
Luzon hosted the highest concentration of political families, such as the long-established Marcos clan in Ilocos Norte, Singson clan in Ilocos Sur, and Ortega clan in La Union. In Visayas, the Garcia and Durano clans in Cebu City often competed against their own clans during the election run, whereas obese dynasties recorded cases of the Duterte clan in Davao City in Mindanao.