Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro slammed Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar "Egay" Erice for accusing President Marcos of merely “pandering” in pushing for the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty law, saying it is the Congress’ responsibility to craft and debate the measure.

Castro said this after Erice withdrew his co-authorship of the substitute bill on the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty measure and claimed the President was only flattering the public by calling the bill a priority measure.

In her press briefing on Wednesday, March 4, the Palace official could not help but wonder why Erice seems to always blame President Marcos.

“Bakit naman po kay Pangulo isisisi (Why should it be blamed on the President)?” she asked.

“Ang nakakapagtaka po dito kay Congressman Erice, parang lahat na lang ng kasalanan sa mundo ay isinisisi niya sa Pangulo (What is puzzling is that Congressman Erice seems to blame the President for everything in the world),” she added.

Castro said lawmakers who disagree with the version approved at the House committee level should raise their concerns during legislative deliberations.

“Kung ayaw niya noong bersiyon sa House of Representatives, eh ‘di kapag nagkaroon po ng pag-debate, debatehin niya po munang mabuti (If he does not like the version in the House of Representatives, then when debates happen, he should debate it properly),” she said.

“Ilabas na niya lahat ng kaniyang talino (Let him show off his intelligence),” she added.

Castro emphasized that drafting legislation is the responsibility of lawmakers.

“Trabaho po nilang gumawa ng batas kaya trabahuhin niya po iyan kung anong gusto niyang version (It is their job to create laws, so he should work on whatever version he wants),” she said.

Several lawmakers have expressed their intention to withdraw their support for what they described as a "watered-down" version of the proposed anti-political dynasty bill, which brought the limit on relatives down to the second degree of consanguinity and affinity from the fourth degree.

The Palace Press Officer said President Marcos has consistently expressed support for the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty law and wants Congress to expedite deliberations on the measure.

She said the President raised the proposal during the most recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting and welcomed updates that discussions and consultations are already underway.

“Ang nais lang po talaga ng Pangulo ay mapabilis at kung ano ang pinakamagandang batas para sa Anti-Political Dynasty Law – iyan po ang nais ng Pangulo (What the President really wants is to speed up the process and ensure that the best possible Anti-Political Dynasty law is enacted),” Castro said.

The proposed measure seeks to implement the constitutional prohibition against political dynasties under Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that the State shall prohibit political dynasties “as may be defined by law.”

The bill aims to prevent members of the same family from simultaneously holding or immediately succeeding one another in elective public office, though details such as the degree of consanguinity covered remain under discussion.

Castro said the administration has not yet endorsed a specific degree of consanguinity that would define political dynasties.

“Wala pa po at pinag-aaralan kung second or fourth o depende po iyan sa magiging version (Not yet. It is still being studied whether it will be second or fourth degree, depending on the final version),” she said.

She noted that once Congress passes the bill, the President will review its provisions before deciding whether to sign it into law.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier said discussions were underway across branches of government and expressed confidence that a version of the measure could be passed, provided it is not “too extreme,” emphasizing that the goal is to “move the needle” toward regulating dynastic concentration in politics.

Recto’s remarks followed a meeting in Malacañan that tackled possible provisions for an anti-political dynasty bill, including potential levels of prohibition, degrees of familial relationships, positions to be covered, and whether bans should apply simultaneously or successively.

The Commission on Elections has also underscored the urgency of legislative action, saying the measure must be enacted before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2028 elections if it is to affect that electoral cycle.