Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla has renewed his push for amendments to the 1987 Constitution by filing a resolution that seeks to stop the proliferation of political dynasties in the country.

Padilla filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 9, where he proposed an amendment to the Charter restricting relatives of government officials from running for public office. 

Earlier in July, the senator filed Senate Bill No. 2730 or the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill which was referred to the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation.

In filing RBH 9, Padilla said that the term limits of elected officials as outlined in the Charter have failed to stop the proliferation of political dynasties. 

RBH 9 seeks restrictions on relatives running for public office, dismissing the need for an enabling law from Congress.

“The term limits of elected officials outlined in the Constitution are not effective in curtailing the proliferation of political dynasties as term-enders may run for a different office or are replaced by a relative, or both,” Padilla said.

“Congressional inaction on several anti-political dynasty measures calls for the amendment of Sec. 26, Art. II of the Constitution to convert the same into a self-executory provision,” the lawmaker added.

Padilla said equal opportunities for public service, inclusivity and fair representation both in the Executive and Legislative department are supposed to be among the blessings of a democratic state.

But political dynasties “continue to thrive and dominate in both national and local elections, most frequently unchallenged,” he said.

Compared to the US Congress where 6.9 percent of legislators come from dynasties, Padilla said there’s 70 percent of the members of Philippine Congress are overwhelmingly dominated by political dynasties, citing a 2017 study of the Philippine Review of Economics.

These local political dynasties also tend to allocate resources to capture the market for - and thus, twist the purpose of - party-list organizations, Padilla lamented.

Under the bill, Padilla called for an amendment to Sec. 26 of Art II (Declaration of State Principles and State Policies), to read, "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service" - removing the clause "as may be defined by law."

The bill primarily prohibits relatives of the President, Vice President, senators, or party list representatives running for the same or any national elective positions; relatives of incumbent local officials running for any elective office in the same city and/or province where the incumbent is elected; relatives of incumbent local officials running for party list representative; and relatives of the President, Vice President, or senators running for local elective office in the same city or province wherein the said officials are domiciled.

Under the bill, relatives include spouses or persons related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full blood or half blood.

It also prohibits related persons, within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, to any elective position provided that the bona fide certificate of candidacy (COC) that was first filed will be recognized.