Recto confident anti-dynasty bill can pass ahead of 2028 polls
Published Jan 28, 2026 12:41 pm
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto (OES)
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto expressed confidence that Congress can pass an anti-political dynasty measure before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2028 elections, as long as the bill is framed in a balanced and workable way.
Recto said the proposed anti-dynasty law is currently being studied by both chambers of Congress and Malacañang, underscoring that it remains a priority of the Marcos administration.
“Pinag-aaralan ngayon ’yan ng both House, Senate, at ng Office of the President (It is currently being studied by both the House, the Senate, and the Office of the President),” he said Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Asked whether lawmakers can meet the timeline envisioned by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier said the bill must be enacted before the COC filing period in 2027 to take effect, Recto said passage remains possible.
“Palagay ko (I think so),” he said.
However, the Palace official cautioned that the measure must avoid provisions that could derail consensus-building in Congress.
“Basta hindi masyadong extreme (As long as it is not too extreme),” he said.
Recto stressed that the administration’s goal is to ensure that at least a meaningful version of the long-delayed reform is enacted.
“The idea is to move the needle, so to speak (The idea is to make progress),” he said.
“Dapat may mapasa tayong version ng Anti-Political Dynasty (We should be able to pass a version of the Anti-Political Dynasty law),” he added.
The remarks follow a meeting in Malacañan that tackled possible provisions for an anti-dynasty bill, including potential levels of prohibition, degrees of familial relationships, positions to be covered, and whether bans should apply simultaneously or successively.
The Constitution explicitly prohibits political dynasties as may be defined by law, but Congress has failed for decades to pass an enabling measure.
Election watchdogs and reform advocates have long argued that without such a law, entrenched political families continue to dominate national and local positions, limiting political competition.