Pasig lone district Rep. Roman Romulo has asked his House of Representatives colleagues to be totally honest with themselves on whether or not they actually want to pass an Anti-Political Dynasty Law.

This, as Romulo expressed disdain over unrealistic proposals when it comes to institutionalizing prohibitions on members of supposed political dynasties from taking part in the elections.

"Sa totoo, we must be honest with each other. Gusto ba natin makapasa ng Anti-[Political] Dynasty Law, or ayaw? Kasi there are practical aspects talaga eh (We must really be honest with each other. Do we want to pass an Anti-Political Dynasty Law, or not? Because there are really practical aspects to it)," the veteran solon said in a manifestation during a Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms hearing Tuesday, Feb. 11.

"Again, we really have to settle among [ourselves], gusto ba talaga natin ng batas o hindi, o nagpapakitang tao lang tayong lahat dito? Kasi iba-ibang version eh (do we really want this law or not, or maybe we're all just showing off here? Because there are differnt versions).

"And then the impracticable is again being forced on everybody. Wag na! Doon tayo sa practicable (Enough of that! Let's go with the practicable)," Romulo added.

The Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong-chaired suffrage panel has been conducting hearings on the 20-plus anti-political dynasty bills filed in the 20th Congress.

Romulo purposely began his manifestation by pointed out that Congress, which includes the House, won't be in violation of the 1987 Constitution even if it doesn't pass an Anti-Political Dynasty Law.

"By not passing a law on anti-[political] dynasty, is Congress violating the Constitution? Let us be clear: Wala tayong violation (We didn't violate anything)," the Pasig lawmaker stressed.

"This has been brought to the Supreme Court (SC) already and the SC has clearly stated, there is separation of powers. Kaya sana, i-disabuse na natin yung minds [ng mga tao] (So let us please disabuse the minds of the people)...Walang vina-viiolate ang ating Kongreso (Congress isn't violating anything). I think we should respect that and let us not mislead the Filipino people," he noted.

While the 39-year-old Charter provides for a ban on political dynasties, Congress has never been able to pass an implementing law for it.

Currently, the House panel discussions appeared stalled on whether to enforce a ban up to the second degree or the more restrictive fourth degree on a political clan.

"Kapag pinag-usapan natin ang fourth degree, so ano na po yun, aabot na po yun, pwedeng sa apo ng kapatid mo or something like that. Let's be honest, right now, meron mga probinsya dito, may mga siyudad tayo sa Pilipinas na nag-aaway nga magkapatid eh. First cousins nag-aaway eh," Romulo said.

(When we talk about the fourth degree, that already extends, for example, to the grandchild of your sibling or something like that. Let’s be honest, right now, there are provinces here, and even cities in the Philippines, where siblings fight each other. Even first cousins are in conflict.)

Romulo expreased serious concerns over the implementability of a fourth degree ban.

"Tinanong kanina si [former SC Associate] Justice [Antonio] Carpio eh...about the fourth civil degree. Ang sagot ni Justice Carpio, again we can review the record, sinabi niya, it is defensible," he said.

(Earlier, [former SC Associate] Justice [Antonio] Carpio was asked about the fourth civil degree. His answer, and we can review the record, was that it is defensible.)

"He (Carpio) did say it was constitutional because that can still be questioned, the fourth civil degree," Romulo said.

"Kung gusto ba natin talaga, we should be practical. Let's take a look at all the scenarios. Ideal yung fourth, walang problema yun. Pero sa totoo ba, mapa-plug ba natin lahat ng loopholes doon?"

(If we truly want this, we should be practical. Let’s take a look at all the scenarios. The fourth degree is ideal, that’s not a problem. But in reality, can we really plug all the loopholes there?)

Romulo sait that ultimately, the prospective Anti-Political Dynasty Law can still be revisited by Congress in case it starts off with the less restrictive second degree prohibition.

"Batas lang ito (This is just as law). And every law is subject to amendment, repeal, modification. So what is wrong if we go first with two degrees instead of the maximum four degrees? If it works then we amend it in the future.

"Pero ang point is (But the point is), let's pass something that is practicable, that can be done, na hindi masyadong mahirap even for the Comelec (that won't be too difficult for the Commission on Elections to implement)," he said.