Cendaña: Congressmen uneasy over SC order to ban political dynasties

September 24, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said the Supreme Court’s order for Congress to enact an anti-political dynasty law does not sit well with many lawmakers because the party-list system was not covered by the version earlier approved by the House of Representatives.
Cendaña said the party-list system has become a “backdoor” for political dynasties, hence, making the issue more contentious among House members.

“ Kasi the version that the House passed did not even cover the party list system. Nakita natin naging backdoor na political dynasty ang party list,” Cendaña said during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.

“Kaya very vocal tayo at alam natin na this does not sit well with many if not majority of our colleagues in the House of Representatives at the time,” he added.

Cendaña was reacting to the SC’s unanimous ruling declaring that Congress committed grave abuse of discretion by failing for 39 years to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

The SC directed Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty and enact an anti-political dynasty law at the earliest opportunity.

The SC ruled that the constitutional provision prohibiting political dynasties is a mandatory command, not merely an aspiration, although Congress retains the authority to define political dynasties and determine the scope of the prohibition.

The ruling came amid reports that a large majority of lawmakers belong to political families.

Cendaña acknowledged that the measure could face resistance in Congress because lawmakers themselves would be affected by any anti-dynasty law.

He particularly pointed to the exclusion of the party-list system from the House version as a concern, saying it could allow political families to continue maintaining influence through an alternative route to public office.#