Political Dynasties in Congress Hinder Reform Efforts
Senator Erwin Tulfo recently voiced concerns over the difficulty of passing bills against political dynasties in the Philippines, pointing out that many lawmakers themselves belong to interconnected families. This key issue of political dynasties in Congress has long complicated efforts to enact reforms aimed at curbing familial dominance in government.
During a hearing by the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, Tulfo questioned former Commission on Elections chair Christian Monsod about the ambiguous definition of political dynasty in the 1987 Constitution. He highlighted that the vague wording has made it challenging to implement meaningful anti-dynasty laws.
Senator Questions Constitutional Definition
“My question is, why didn’t the framers think of it? Did you at one point discuss that it should be clearly laid out? For example, that fathers, children, spouses, or even cousins should be prohibited from holding office at the same time. Why wasn’t that done? Now, we are having a hard time applying this law, sir,” Tulfo said in Filipino during the session.
He lamented that passing anti-political dynasty bills is a daunting task because many members of Congress directly benefit from the system. “To be honest, let me be candid, it is very difficult to pass anti-political dynasty bills. How can Congress pass a law against dynasties when so many of its members are related to each other?” the senator added.
Constitution Framers Trusted Congress
Monsod explained that the Constitution’s framers deliberately left the definition of political dynasty to Congress, believing that including the provision in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies would motivate lawmakers to enact implementing legislation.
“We were trusting Congress to do its job,” Monsod stated. He further noted that the extent of the problem might evolve over time, requiring adjustments such as extending restrictions to first cousins or narrowing them as political maturity develops. Unfortunately, Monsod expressed disappointment that Congress has yet to act decisively on this matter.
Personal Admission: A Family of Politicians
In a candid admission, Tulfo acknowledged his own family’s political involvement, noting that his brother, Senator Raffy Tulfo, serves alongside him. Another brother, journalist Ben Tulfo, recently ran unsuccessfully for the Senate.
“Let me be candid to everyone here. I myself come from a family of emerging politicians,” he said. He stressed that the issue is not about attacking families but about strengthening institutions and ensuring fair leadership opportunities for all Filipinos.
Ongoing Legislative Efforts
Tulfo previously declared he would resign if an anti-political dynasty bill were enacted. Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc recently refiled a measure to ban political dynasties in the 20th Congress. Despite repeated attempts by progressive lawmakers, such proposals have yet to gain traction.
Alongside Tulfo, Senators Robin Padilla, Ping Lacson, and Kiko Pangilinan have also filed their own versions of anti-political dynasty bills, signaling continued legislative interest despite obstacles.
For more news and updates on political dynasties in Congress, visit Filipinokami.com.
