MANILA, Philippines -- Several lawmakers have formally asked President Benigno Aquino III to certify as urgent the anti-political dynasty bill, whose passage they called “long overdue.” It is the constitutional duty of the Congress to enact a law defining and prohibiting the establishment of political dynasties in accordance with the intent of Section 26, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution, Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice, the bill’s author, said in his letter to Aquino. While several bills of similar import had been filed in the past, these were never acted upon during the previous Congress through the manipulation of unscrupulous politicians, he added. Erice said Aquino’s explicit support could help push the passage of the bill that has been pending since the 12th Congress. House Bill No. 3587, or An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties, was approved at the committee level and has, since last week, been included in the Official Business of the House of Representatives for sponsorship and plenary debate. The bill seeks to bar relatives of politicians up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from holding or running for national or local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms. Aside from Erice, the measure’s authors are Representatives Oscar Rodriguez of Pampanga, Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela, Antonio Tinio of ACT Teanchers, Antonio Hicap of Anakpawis, and Terry Ridon of Kabataan.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:47:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015