Various groups filed a petition with the Supreme Court on March 31 to urge Philippine Congress to pass a law defining and prohibiting political dynasties in the country. According to the petition, Congress should have long ago enacted such a law in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.

The petition was filed by 1Sambayan Coalition representative former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Advocates for National Interest (ANI), UP Law Class 1975, Sanlakas, professors, and the Catholic Church’s four bishops and seven priests. Respondents named in the petition are Senate President Chiz Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez for the two chambers of Congress.

According to the petition, the issue of political dynasties has plagued the country for four decades, with Congress’s inaction on the matter being particularly glaring. The groups stated that such practices are unconstitutional and have caused escalating levels of poverty in the Philippines.

Article 2, Section 26 of the constitution states that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

The petitioners asserted that the current government is filled with officials whose primary qualification is just “luck in the genetic lottery” rather than character or competence for public service.

For Makabayan Coalition representatives in the House of Representatives, such a law has long been overdue in the Philippines. They have repeatedly spearheaded proposals in the House of Representatives, but these have failed to become law.

In the 19th Congress, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel filed House Bill 1157 or the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which prohibits spouses or any relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity from running for office if related to an incumbent official. The bill clearly outlines limitations to block political dynasties.

“The task to legislate this has long been overdue for Congress. But of course, the dominance of political dynasties in our legislative branch hindered its progress,” stated Rep. Manuel.

Makabayan senatorial candidate and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said, “that’s precisely our goal—to finally have this law.” She directly challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, now the highest official of the Marcos dynasty, to “pass this law urgently needed by our people.”

It will be recalled that in 2022, Marcos explicitly opposed the idea of enacting an anti-political dynasty law. In fact, the administration’s endorsed senatorial candidates are all from political dynasties, families of landlords, comprador bourgeoisie, and bureaucratic capitalists.

A 2019 study by Ateneo School of Government professors showed an increase in “fat” dynasties—those with multiple family members simultaneously in power—from 19% in 1977 to 29% in 2017.

The study noted that in 2001, there were 1,303 political families with two members in power, 257 families with three, and 157 families with four or more. This grew by 2019 to 1,548 families with two members, 339 with three, and 217 with four or more.