Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers believes that an anti-political dynasty law can be enacted during the current administration of President Marcos.

“I think if Congress will clearly come up with a definition and limitations that will be acceptable to the members of both the Senate and the House, sa tingin ko mapapasa natin niyan (I think we'll be able to pass that),” Barbers told reporters.

Marcos, who assumed the Palace seat in 2022 to the tune of a record-setting 31 million votes, will enter the halfway point of his tenure this year.

The mid-term elections will be held on May 12, and with the elections come talk about political dynasties. While the 1987 Constitution is expressly against political dynasties, there is currently no law that can enforce this prohibition.

Barbers, a member of the House majority, believes that Marcos has the political will to make this happen.

“So tingin ko meron, ito yung panawagan at layunin ng Bagong Pilipinas. Baguhin natin ang itsura ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagbago sa mga polisiyang pang-politikal, polisiyang pang-ekonomiya at siyempre mga polisiya ng ating gobyerno to really achieve the objectives of ang Bagong Pilipinas. So tingin ko meron  political will ang ating Pangulo diyan," said the veteran solon.

(I think this is appeal and purpose of Bagong Pilipinas. Let's create a new face for the Philippines by changing political policies, economic policies, and of course governmental policies to really achieve the objectives of the Bagong Pilipinas. So I think the President has the political will for that.)

Barbers personally feels that it's about time for an anti-political dynasty to be enacted. 

“Yes, ako, personally, gusto ko yan. I-define ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng political dynasty? (Yes, me, personally, I like that. To define, what does polticial dynasty mean?) Ano ba ang limitation (What is the limitation) surrounding the interest of a certain say clan or family in running for public office?" Barbers said.

"Dapat siguro maklaro muna...Bigyan ang definition and once ito yung maging batas, dapat talagang strict pagpatupad na itong mga batas na ito (I think this should be clarified first...give it a definition and once it becomes law, it should really be strictly implemented)," he added.