‘Dapat Isa Lang’: Iloilo push for tougher anti-dynasty law begins

ILOILO CITY — A people’s initiative seeking to enact a “genuine” anti-political dynasty law was launched here Wednesday, with organizers targeting at least 10% of registered voters for signatures.

The “Dapat Isa Lang” movement, led by the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), seeks to mobilize citizens to support the proposed people’s bill, according to its organizers.

The measure would prohibit relatives within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity from holding or seeking certain public offices simultaneously.

“Dapat Isa Lang is a movement working together for a shared goal — a genuine anti-dynasty law,” JASAC Director Monsignor Meliton Oso said during a press conference.

Atty. Rean Sy, one of the movement’s legal counsels, said the proposed people’s bill would impose a broader restriction than House Bill No. 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.

HB 8389, authored by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, seeks to bar relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or holding public office in the same locality, Sy said.

Sy also noted that the House measure was approved through viva voce voting.

The movement’s organizers said their proposed measure would extend the prohibition to relatives within the third degree.

Under the civil law computation of kinship, the second degree covers a person’s parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren, including in-laws of the same degree. The third degree extends to uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, great-grandparents, and great-grandchildren.

Church groups back initiative

Commission on Laity representative Clarizel Joy Abellar urged Catholics to translate their faith into collective action and join discussions on political dynasties.

She said political dynasties should not be viewed solely as a political issue but also as a concern involving the common good, justice, equal opportunity, and accountability.

“The Christian standard of leadership is always accountability,” Abellar said.

She also cited Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties “as may be defined by law.”

Nearly four decades after the Constitution took effect, Congress has yet to pass the enabling law that would define and ban political dynasties.

The only existing statutory restriction is found in the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, or Republic Act No. 10742, which bars youth council officials from being related within the second degree to incumbent elected officials in the same area.

Abellar also cited the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which has called for legislation addressing political dynasties.

In a circular issued Wednesday, Jaro Archbishop Midyphil Billones expressed support for the “Dapat Isa Lang” movement.

Billones said the initiative is rooted in concerns over justice, equality, the common good, and public accountability.

The circular cited a Sept. 25 CBCP pastoral statement supporting the people’s initiative and calling for a “genuine, meaningful, and effective” anti-political dynasty law.

The archdiocese said the campaign is being coordinated by JASAC, the Commission on Laity, and volunteer lawyers.

Billones also encouraged ecclesiastical districts, vicariates, parishes, Catholic schools, Basic Ecclesial Communities, and lay organizations to participate in the campaign.

The archdiocese summarized its call to action in three parts: Dapat Alam (knowing what the proposal contains), Dapat Maki-Alam (participating in social change), and Dapat Manindigan (standing against misinformation, coercion, vote-buying, intimidation, and political pressure).

Signature drive

Oso said the movement aims to complete its signature-gathering campaign by Dec. 31.

The organizers are targeting the submission of the initiative in the first week of February 2027, with the goal of bringing it before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ahead of the 2028 elections.

The movement is pursuing the initiative through the people’s initiative mechanism provided under the 1987 Constitution.

Under Republic Act No. 6735, or the Initiative and Referendum Act, a petition proposing a national law must be signed by at least 10% of all registered voters, with every legislative district represented by at least 3% of its registered voters.