SOME lawmakers and a political analyst find issues with House Bill 6771 or the anti-political dynasty bill filed by House Speaker Faustino Dy III and House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos.

Members of the Makabayan Bloc (ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co), who have historically repeatedly filed their version of the anti-dynasty bill, described the bill drafted by Dy and Marcos as ‘deceiving’, because it does not ban political dynasties, instead just limits it.

“Lubhang kapos at mapanlinlang ang bagong panukalang batas kaugnay ng mga political dynasties dahil nililimithan lang nito ang pagsasabay ng mga magkakamag-anak sa parehong national at local positions pero maaaring magkaroon pa rin ng mga magkakamag-anak basta iba-iba ang pusisyong tatakbuhan nila… Malabnaw na nga, inaasahan pang lalabnaw pa ito kapag sinalang na sa deliberasyon. Hindi tayo dapat makuntento sa ganitong panukala,” the Makabayan Bloc said in a statement.

In their version, family members up to fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity cannot simultaneously hold or run for national and local positions; as well as succeed their relatives in an elected position.

Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima mirrors Makabayan Bloc’s sentiments, questioning the idea of having just one member of the family sit in an elective position.

“Paano kung sa lahat o majority sa anim na elective positions from the National to the Barangay level, may galing sa iisang pamilya na sabay-sabay tumakbo at nanalo? Malinaw na political dynasty pa rin yun, a fat political dynasty!” de Lima said in a statement.

For political analyst and Political Science Professor Julio Teehankee, HB 6771 does not indicate whether there will be a maximum number of family members allowed to simultaneously hold elective national and local positions.

“Bagama’t sa unang basa, makikita natin na hanggang 4th degree of consanguinity ang minumungkahi nitong batas na ito, ang aking nakikita ay may kakulangan ito dahil hindi niya sinasabi kung ilan sa magkakamag-anak ang puwede at hindi pwedeng tumakbo,” Teehankee said in an interview.

Teehankee furthered that if these issues will not be addressed, the anti-dynasty bill will ultimately just be a pretentious effort and may even strengthen political dynasties.

“Ang isa pang pagkalatag ng kanilang listahan ng bawal tumakbo ay ayon sa teritoryo or hierarchical territory – national, sa local whether provincial municipal, city o barangay. Kaya lang, hindi maliwanag paano kung may overlapping constitutiencies. Halimbawa, hindi ka nga tumakbo sa isang distrito bilang kongresista, tatakbo ka naman sa ibang distrito sa ibang probinsiya o sa ibang jurisdiction. Kailangang linawin ito. Kung hindi, iisipin ng mamamayan at mga nagmamasid na ito ay mga loophole. At ito, again, ay isang malaking pagpapanggap lamang na mayroong tinutulak na anti-political dynasty. Pero ito ay malamya at hindi malinaw at lalong magpapalakas sa mga dinastiya,” he said.