MANILA – The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, chaired by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, has placed the anti-political dynasty bill at the top of its agenda, with initial hearings scheduled for the third week of January 2026. Adiong announced this priority following the referral of House Bill No. 6771—filed by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos—to his panel in December 2025.
The committee is consolidating at least 14 pending anti-dynasty proposals, many from minority and party-list lawmakers, into a single, “constitutionally sound and acceptable” measure. Adiong emphasized grassroots consultations to ensure public input on key issues, such as the degree of kinship prohibited (most bills target second-degree relatives; some fourth-degree).
This momentum follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize electoral reforms, including an enabling law for the 1987 Constitution’s anti-dynasty provision (Article II, Section 26). Adiong noted courtesy to leadership delayed December hearings but assured thorough deliberations starting January—potentially forming a technical working group for consolidation.
Critics, including minority lawmakers, have called leadership’s version “inadequate,” while advocates see hope in the rare bipartisan push.
The agenda reflects growing calls for political inclusivity amid perceptions of entrenched dynasties dominating ~70-80% of elective posts.
Key Bills Snapshot:
| Lead Authors | Bill No. | Kinship Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dy & Marcos | HB 6771 | Second degree | Referred to panel; hearings Jan |
| Various (minority/Akbayan) | Multiple | Second/fourth | Pending consolidation |