(Makabayan coalition)

The Makabayan coalition is preparing to file disqualification cases before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against candidates vying for positions in national government who are part of so-called "political dynasties".

Former congressman and ACT Teachers Party-list first nominee Antonio Tinio says the planned filing is part of the progressive group’s vow to end political dynasties.

“Ang magiging basis po natin dito ay ang Konstitusyon at ang batas (Our basis for this will be the Constitution and the law),” he said in a press briefing.

Tinio said the 1987 Constitution explicitly states that political dynasties are prohibited. 

He also noted that the term political dynasty was clearly defined in Republic Act (RA) No. 10742, or the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act.

Section 10 of the law, which cited the qualifications of an SK official, stated that they must “not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected”.

“So may definition na po na pwedeng gamitin kaya sa tingin natin may sapat na legal basis para ipagbawal ang political dynasties,” added Tinio.

(So, there is a definition that can be used, which is why we believe there is sufficient legal basis to ban political dynasties.)

Based on Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code, a candidate may merit disqualification if they are declared “insane or incompetent”, have been convicted of subversion, insurrection, or rebellion, faced any offense with a penalty of more than 18 months in prison or for any crime involving moral turpitude.

Section 68 of the same code states that candidates may face disqualification if found guilty of bribing Comelec officials, committed acts of terrorism to enhance their candidacy, and spent more than the allowed election campaign amount, among others.

Furthermore, Tinio pointed out that political families have also taken over the party-list system to expand their power from local to national politics. 

He said this has damaged the original intention of party-lists under the Constitution, which is to give representation to the marginalized sector.

“Yung mga party-lists na tunay na kumakatawan sa marginalized sectors katulad ng mga Makabayan party-lists ay talagang nababawasan na ang representasyon sa Kongreso dahil nga sa paghahari ng political dynasty sa all levels,” he stressed.

(Party-lists that genuinely represent marginalized sectors, like the Makabayan party-lists, are seeing a decrease in representation in Congress due to the dominance of political dynasties at all levels.)