After 40 years, anti-political dynasty push turns to people power

National

AFTER decades of waiting for Congress to pass an anti-political dynasty law, a citizens’ movement is taking its campaign directly to voters, beginning with a signature drive in Negros.

The Dapat Isa Lang (D1L) movement launched the campaign on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist Church) in Bacolod City, with online signing set to begin in September.

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza urged Negrenses and other Filipinos to support the initiative, saying it offers an opportunity for citizens to use people power for the common good. He also called on Filipinos to move beyond complaints about the country’s political culture and help build the democracy they want to leave to future generations.

“This is our rare chance to really regain power for the common good. May Negros help lead the way,” Alminaza said in an Inquirer report.

Karlo Abadines, executive director of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, said the proposed measure would limit political families to one elected official in a national position and one in a local position.

It would also bar relatives of an elected official up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity from running for office, prohibit succession, replacement or position-switching among relatives, and require a one-term cooling-off period after an official reaches the applicable term limit.

The people’s initiative process requires signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters nationwide, or about 7 million to 7.5 million voters, with at least 3 percent coming from every legislative district, Abadines said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) would verify the signatures before conducting a nationwide referendum for voters to approve or reject the measure. Abadines said it would automatically become law if approved, without having to pass through Congress or the President.

Organizers are targeting implementation of the measure in time for the 2028 elections, saying the initiative provides an opportunity to enact an anti-political dynasty law after decades without congressional action.

“We have waited 40 years for an anti-political dynasty law that Congress has not delivered. This is an opportunity for us, the Filipino people, to pass a genuine antipolitical dynasty law,” he said in the same article.

Organizers are developing digital tools for online signing and coordinating with Comelec on requirements and safeguards to expand participation.

The 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

Alminaza noted that nearly four decades later, no national law has been enacted to define and prohibit political dynasties.

D1L is an all-volunteer, non-partisan citizens’ initiative.

Alminaza said the campaign is not directed at any particular political family or party but seeks to prevent public service from becoming concentrated among a few families and keep opportunities for public service open to all Filipinos.(MyTVCebu)