Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Facebook)

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero says he is in favor of enacting a measure that aims to put an end to political dynasties as long as certain concerns are resolved.

Escudero, born to a family of politicians in Sorsogon, said he would vote for such a measure even if he’s a “product” of a dynasty himself.

“Kung kailangan ng boto ko para mapasa ‘yan, boboto ako dahil laban naman ‘yun sa interes ko,” the senator said during a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

(If my vote is needed to pass it, I will vote for it because it goes against my interest.)

“Na makikialam ako sa pagbalangkas niyan ay klarong kaso ng conflict of interest, rason para hindi ko dapat panghimasukan maliban na lamang kung ang boto ko ay kinakailangang para mapasa ‘yan,” he added.

(My interference in the drafting of such a measure is a clear case of conflict of interest, so I should not interfere unless my vote is necessary for it to pass.)

Escudero says that favoring a proposed legislation, even if it's against one’s interest, is allowed by the Constitution and the country’s laws.

He, however, pointed out that previous attempts to end political dynasties in Congress always fell short because they failed to address what a political dynasty really was.

The Senate president added that the rules needed to implement such a law presented another long-standing debate.

“Ang assumption nila ay isang malaking sindikato ang lahat ng pamilya na hindi naman siguro gano’n ‘yun,” he said.

(Their assumption is that all families are one big syndicate, which is probably not the case.)

“Nakikita natin maraming magkakamag-anak sa eleksyong to at nagdaang eleksyon na naglalaban-laban, nagaaway-away,” he underscored.

(We see many relatives in this election and past elections who are competing and fighting against each other.)

Under the 1987 Constitution, political dynasties are explicitly prohibited “as may be defined by law”. Without an existing enabling law, their existence is still not outlawed.

Dynasties dominate

Discussions on banning political dynasties have once again trended on social media following observations that several candidates who have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2025 mid-term elections belong to political clans.

Recent surveys for next year’s senatorial bets show that at least half of the leading 12 candidates are part of families with a strong grasp of national and local politics.

“Wala naman tayong batas na pumipigil kung sino ang nais tumakbo, wala rin namang limitasyon kung sinong pwedeng iboto o bawal iboto ng ating mga kababayan,” said Escudero when asked for his reaction.

(We don't have a law that restricts who wants to run, there is also no limit on who our countrymen can vote for or can't vote for.)

If candidates belonging to political families win in the upcoming elections, then it only means that they are what most of the voters want, he said.

“Hindi mo pwedeng i-assume na hindi alam at mangmang ang botante kaugnay sa kaniyang pagpapasya,” the Senate leader said.

(You cannot assume that the voter is uninformed and ignorant regarding their decision.)

“Alam ng botanteng Pilipino ang kaniyang pagpapasya at desisyon niya na maglagay ng isa, dalawa, o tatlo mula sa isang apelido o pamilya,” he added.

(The Filipino voter knows their choice and it's their decision to put one, two, or three candidates of the same surname or family.)