Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants an anti-political dynasty law passed within his term, following the House of Representatives’ approval of its version on third and final reading.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos remains committed to the measure despite questions over its prospects under a President from one of the country’s most prominent political families.
“Ang Pangulo nga po ang nagsabi na unahin ito,” Castro said, referring to the anti-political dynasty bill.
Castro said the measure was among the bills taken up during a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting, where Marcos personally directed lawmakers to focus on its passage.
“Noong nagkaroon ng pagpupulong ang LEDAC, iyan po ang tinutukan ng Pangulo. Kinausap niya po mismo, nandodoon si Senator Risa Hontiveros at nag-ulat po siya, at sinabi po ng Pangulo na tutukan po ito at nais pong maipasa ito sa kaniyang termino,” she said.
Castro acknowledged concerns over the bill, given that Marcos himself comes from a political family, but stressed that the President has endorsed the measure and wants it prioritized.
She said Marcos will review the final version of the bill once it reaches his office and sign it into law if he approves its provisions.
“Titingnan po ng Pangulo dahil kapag ito po ay naipasa na at napakita na po sa Pangulo ay titiyakin po na ito ay isa sa magiging priority bills dahil ito po talaga ang nais ng Pangulo na sa kaniyang pamumuno ay maipasa ang Anti-Political Dynasty Bill,” Castro said.
The House approved on Wednesday its version of the proposed anti-political dynasty law, which seeks to prohibit spouses and relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously holding or seeking elective posts within the same political jurisdiction.
The measure is aimed at addressing the long-standing dominance of political families in elective positions, a reform repeatedly raised in discussions on political accountability and equal access to public office.