CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Several members of the House of Representatives have clarified that the current push for an anti-political dynasty law is not a targeted effort against specific political figures, such as Vice President Sara Duterte.
The statements followed a public consultation hearing held by the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Key Points from Lawmakers:
- Constitutional Mandate: Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized that Article 2, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution mandates Congress to define and prohibit political dynasties. He asserted that the timing of the discussions has no connection to VP Duterte’s recent announcement of her 2028 presidential bid.
- Lawmakers Themselves Affected: 1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado pointed out that the proposed legislation would most heavily impact members of Congress, many of whom belong to prominent political families. He stated that legislators are willing to make this “sacrifice” for the country’s benefit.
- National Interest: Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan argued that the measure is a necessary reform for the country’s current problems, noting that the law must be honored above individual political interests.
- Cross-Sector Support: During earlier consultations in Cebu, former Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña expressed support for the bill despite his own family’s political history. He even suggested that family members running against each other could help dismantle established dynasties.
Timeline of the Bill
While public attention has spiked recently, anti-dynasty bills were filed as early as July 2025 at the start of the 20th Congress. The push gained significant momentum in November 2025 when House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III—whose own family is a prominent dynasty in Isabela—declared the measures a priority for the chamber. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also urged both the House and Senate to prioritize the bill as part of key political reforms.
The committee has already completed consultation legs in Cavite, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro to gather broad public sentiment on the proposed law.