Senior Deputy Speaker South Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez has defended the House of Representatives' efforts to pass an Anti-Political Dynasty Law, as he pushed back on allegations that it's all a "hoax".

"The claim that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty [Law] is a 'hoax' is inaccurate, misleading, and without basis," Hernandez, the second highest-ranked House member said in a statement over the weekend.

Hernandez cited the sheer necessity of such law, as indicated by the 39-year-old Charter.

"The 1987 Constitution does not define what constitutes a political dynasty. Instead, it expressly mandates Congress to enact a law defining political dynasties," he said.

"This constitutional design makes clear that no single legislator has the authority—or monopoly—to define what a political dynasty is," noted Hernandez.

The chamber, through the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, already held its first hearing on the 21 anti-political dynasty measures filed in the 20th Congress. As expected the definition of terms became the initial point of contention.

"Disagreement with a proposed definition does not render a legislative measure a hoax. The notion that any bill which does not conform to one individual’s preferred formulation is illegitimate is legally unsound and intellectually dishonest, and reflects a misunderstanding of both constitutional intent and the legislative process," Hernandez said without naming anybody in particular.

The senior deputy speaker also pointed out that there was no uniform or universally accepted anti-political dynasty law anywhere in the world.

"Democratic systems address the concentration of political power in ways consistent with their own constitutional structures and political realities. What matters is that the measure adopted is reasonable, enforceable, and consistent with constitutional guarantees," he noted.

No less than House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos are leading the push to approve the measure. House Bill (HB) No.6771--Dy and Rep. Marcos' own version of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law--is expected to be the template measure.

HB No.6771 defines "political dynasty" as the concentration and dominance of elective political power by persons related to one another.

"Under this proposed measure, spouses, siblings, and relatives within the fourth civil degree of affinity or consanguinity of a duly elected public officer are disqualified from simultaneously holding identified elective public positions," read the bill.

"The bill filed under the leadership of the Speaker is a good-faith effort to comply with a long-standing constitutional mandate—one that seeks to curb excessive concentration of political power while respecting the people’s right to choose their leaders, as well as the principles of due process and equal protection," Hernandez reckoned.

He says that while policy disagreements are legitimate and expected in a democracy, dismissing a serious legislative proposal through sweeping labels rather than substantive engagement does not contribute to constructive public discourse.

"The proper forum for disagreement is the committee process and plenary deliberations, where proposals can be scrutinized, refined, and improved on their merits," he said.

"This measure is not about personalities. It is about faithfully and responsibly discharging Congress’ constitutional duty through serious, principled, and good-faith lawmaking," Hernandez further said.