Cendaña says this bill is the answer to 'toxic family drama' in Philippine politics
At A Glance
- The passage of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law can put a stop to what Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña called "toxic family drama" in Philippine politics.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left), Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)
The passage of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law can put a stop to what Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña called "toxic family drama" in Philippine politics.
Cendaña had this to say Tuesday, Nov. 18--a day after Senator Imee Marcos claimed that his own brother, President Marcos, was a drug user.
"After natin marinig ang pasabog ni Sen. Imee, mas lalong tumindi ang paniniwala nating hindi dapat family matter ang pamumuno. 'Yung mga bagay na over Sunday lunch pinag-uusapan, hindi dapat nakakaapekto sa lagay ng bayan," Rep. Cendaña said.
(After we heard Senator Imee’s explosive revelations, our belief grew stronger that leadership should not be a family matter. The things discussed over Sunday lunch should not affect the state of the nation.)
Amid this very public spat in then first family, Cendaña said the immediate passage of the Comprehensive Anti-Political Dynasty Bill or House Bill (HB) No.5905 was of utmost importance.
Incidentally, HB No.5905 was read on first reading in plenary Tuesday. It was referred to the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.
"The decades of rule of these political dynasties has led us to our current state of politics. Nadadamay tuloy ang mga mamamayan sa agawan ng poder nitong mga political dynasties (The citizens end up being dragged into the power struggle of these political dynasties),” Cendaña emphasized.
“We need an anti-political dynasty law to end this insufferable and toxic family drama,” he further said.
Akbayan’s anti-dynasty bill prohibits relatives of incumbents within the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity from running for public office. The prohibition also extends to spouses, common-law partners, and those in de facto relationships.