The House of Representatives made history on Tuesday, March 17 by starting the plenary debates on the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law, embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 8389.

Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chairman Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong sponsored and defended the long-sought measure on the floor. The significance and rarity of the situation wasn't lost on him.

“Today, we have the opportunity to make history. Today, we fulfill a long-standing constitutional mandate, 40 years in the making,” Adiong said in his sponsorship speech

The measure—principally authored by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos, with 173 other lawmakers as co-authors—seeks to become the enabling law of a provision of the 1987 Constitution prohibiting political dynasties.

Tuesday was the first time since May 2014, during the 16th Congress, that an anti-political dynasty bill reached the sponsorship and debate stage in the lower chamber.

Adiong says the existing Charter clearly directs the State to ensure equal access to public office and prohibit political dynasties.

“Our Constitution is unequivocal in its guidance. Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 26 states that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law,” he said.

“Our task is not simply to write the most restrictive definition possible. Our responsibility is to craft a definition that is constitutional, workable, and capable of withstanding scrutiny here in plenary session and in the courts,” Adiong said.

The Mindanao lawmaker says HB No. 8389, the 20th Congress version of the anti-political dynasty bill--strikes a careful balance between reform and democratic principles.

“This bill is designed with precisely that objective. It uses the limited authority granted to Congress by the Constitution to define political dynasties in a manner that enables their prohibition, while remaining fully consistent with the other rights and principles enshrined in our fundamental law,” he said.

Adiong also highlighted the extensive groundwork behind the measure, including multiple committee hearings and public consultations in Cavite, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro, where stakeholders aired both support and concerns.

“These discussions reaffirmed an important reality. The challenge before Congress is constitutional, legal, and deeply practical,” Adiong said.

“That is why this measure is grounded and pragmatic. It seeks to advance the constitutional directive to prohibit political dynasties while preserving the democratic foundations upon which our republic stands,” added the "Young Guns" bloc member.

HB No. 8389 is considered a priority measure by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Counci (LEDAC), which is led by President Marcos himself.

The plenary debates were suspended just before 7 p.m. Tuesday night. It will continue during plenary session Wednesday, until the measure's expected approval on second reading that same day.