Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña urged the Senate to heed the Supreme Court’s ruling on political dynasties and pass a law that would cover siblings holding or seeking elective posts, including members of political families in the Senate such as the Tulfos, Cayetanos, and Estradas.
Cendaña said the anti-political dynasty law should prohibit relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity, as well as political succession.
His proposed coverage could affect several political families in the Senate, including the Tulfo brothers, as well as siblings such as Senators JV Estrada and Jinggoy Estrada, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano, and Mark Villar and his sister, Senator Camille Villar.
“Sana the Senate will listen to the Supreme Court and to the clamor of the people,” Cendaña said during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
Cendaña said the House version of the anti-dynasty bill, which limits the prohibition to the second degree, had already been approved on third and final reading.
According to Cendaña, Akbayan voted against the House version and withdrew its authorship of the committee report because the measure failed to meet the constitutional mandate against political dynasties.
“In fact, yung version natin ang bill na sinasabi dapat up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity, at dapat bawal din yung succession,” Cendaña said.
He said the Senate still has the opportunity to craft a stronger measure that would conform with the SC’s ruling.
Cendaña also appealed to senators to set aside their personal and political interests when voting on the measure.
“Ang demand ng taong bayan from their lawmakers is to vote against self-interest,” he said.
He urged the Senate to “heed the call of the SC” and vote in favor of stronger restrictions on political dynasties.
“Napakahalaga kasi sa isang panahon kung saan mababa ang kumpiyansa o tiwala ng taong bayan sa ating institusyon. The only way to regain the trust is for lawmakers to really heed the Supreme Court,” Cendaña said.#