The University of the Philippines Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform (IGLR) is hosting an academic symposium on the implications of political dynasties entitled “Political Dynasties: Biyaya o Parusa?” on May 24, 2024 from 8:30 a.m to 12 p.m at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City.
The symposium aims to conduct an academic discussion on the 1987 Constitution’s anti-political dynasty provision, a related pending petition in the Supreme Court and the legal, socioeconomic, and governance implications of political dynasties in the Philippines.
The 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 26 provides, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Thirty seven years since the passage of the 1987 Constitution, Congress has failed to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties. Various sectors have called for the appropriate legislation to be passed citing studies showing the link of political dynasties to poverty, underdevelopment, corruption, and poor governance to no avail.
It will be recalled that on March 19, 2024, a group of lawyers led by Wilfredo M. Trinidad, Rico V. Domingo, Jorge L. Cabildo, and Caesar G. Oracion, all UP alumni and classmates belonging to UP Law Class of 1976, filed a petition with the Supreme Court praying for a Writ of Mandamus to compel Congress to perform its ministerial duty to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties.
The legal and academic luminaries who have been invited to the Symposium include Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento of the 1987 Constitutional Commission; Atty. Rico V. Domingo, former President of the Philippine Bar Association and Chairman, Movement Against Disinformation (MAD); Atty. Wilfredo M. Trinidad, former Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications; Prof. Gwen Grecia-De Vera of the UP College of Law; Prof. Ronald U. Mendoza, former dean of the Ateneo School of Government; Dr. Rogelio Alicor L. Panao, associate professor of Political Science, UP Diliman; and Dr. Edna Estefania S. Co, professor and former Dean, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. The symposium will be moderated by Atty. Moises S. Tolentino. Jr., of UP Law Class of 1976.