Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V has named the likes of House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto as political family or dynasty members who are actually good leaders.

Ortega had this to say over the weekend as he continued to defend House Bill (HB) No. 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law that then lower chamber recently passed on third and final reading.

According ro him, elective officials should be judged based on their performance as public servants, and not just their surnames.

“Dapat may metrics na kasama, base sa pamumuno at total governance. Kaya maganda po na may numero, hindi opinyon (There should be metrics included, based on leadership and total governance. It’s better to have numbers, not opinions)," he said.

Ortega cited emerging leaders like Sotto of Pasig, the Belmontes of Quezon City, and Rep. Marcos.

“Nandyan ‘yung Vico Sotto diba, andyan si Sandro Marcos, andyan yung mga Belmonte (There’s Vico Sotto, there’s Sandro Marcos, there are the Belmontes)," he said.

Ortega went on to speak at length about the presidential son and his fellow Ilocano. He shared the kind of majority leader Rep. Marcos was and his work ethic.

“Higit sa kaalaman ng karamihan, ‘yung majority leader namin hindi nag-aabsent ‘yan kahit anong sabihin nila o anong ibato nila, hindi po nag-aabsent ‘yan. Siya ang unang nandoon, siya huling umaalis,” he noted.

(Beyond what most people know, our majority leader never absents himself no matter what they say or throw at him. He is the first to arrive, the last to leave.)

The deputy speaker from a political family in La Union said there have been studies on the impact of political families in the areas they govern, some of which were "success stories".

Ortega couldn't help but lament that the term “political dynasty” has created a bad impression on people.

“‘Pag dynasty kasi, parang negative kaagad ang connotation (When you say dynasty, it immediately carries a negative connotation),"

To counteract this, Ortega underscores the need for the country to develop the “best and the brightest” among its young leaders, whether they belong to traditional political families or are newbies in politics

Sotto is 37 while Rep. Marcos is 32.

Ortega reiterated defended the passage by the House of Representatives of HB No. 8389, which critics described as a “watered down” anti-political dynasty measure.

He described it as a realistic version that was acceptable to most lawmakers, which also made it a “good, necessary first step” by Congress.

The bill defines a political dynasty as the concentration, consolidation, or dominance of elective political power by spouses or relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. If and when enacted, the bill will finally implement the anti-political dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution.

The measure prohibits spouses or relatives within the second degree from simultaneously holding or running for elective posts in the same national, provincial, city, municipal or barangay government, or from seeking seats in the House of Representatives within the same legislative district.