CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A Commission on Elections (COMELEC) official warned that implementing a ban on political dynasties would be “very hard” if the enabling law remains vague or riddled with loopholes.
During a Senate committee hearing on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Renato Magbutay, COMELEC regional director for Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen, urged lawmakers to craft “ironclad and foolproof” legislation.
“It is very hard for the Comelec to implement a law if the one passed is ambivalent, contains ambiguities, and is prone to loopholes,” Magbutay told the Senate committee on electoral reform. He assured the panel that if the law is clear, the poll body can enforce it even in challenging areas with peace and order issues.
Key Points from the Hearing:
- Constitutional Mandate: Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the state to prohibit political dynasties, but the provision has remained dormant for 39 years because Congress has never passed a law defining what a “political dynasty” is.
- Pending Legislation: There are currently several bills under consideration:
- House Bill No. 6771: Proposed by Speaker Faustino Dy III and Rep. Alexander Marcos—both members of prominent political families. This bill has gained traction because President Marcos has asked Congress to prioritize it.
- Senate Bill No. 1854: Filed by Senator Loren Legarda, titled the “Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2025.”
- Senate Bill No. 1765: A long-standing proposal by former Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
- Corruption and Poverty: Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee, emphasized that the goal is not to attack families but to address the correlation between dynasties and corruption. “It is easy to hide greed and wrongdoing when those who are supposed to conduct a check and balance are family members as well,” she stated.
- Political Will: While a clear law is necessary, Pangilinan argued that “political will” from the COMELEC is equally vital, comparing the issue to existing bans on vote-buying that often go unenforced.
The hearing held at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan was the fifth and final consultative meeting on the bills in Mindanao. The committee is expected to consolidate these proposals into a final version for plenary discussion.