SC grants petition urging Congress to pass law vs political dynasties

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of petitions seeking to compel Congress to pass a law on political dynasties.

READ: Marcos bent on approval anti-political dynasty bill before term ends

The full court decision penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando granted three consolidated petitions in GR numbers 263934, 272370, and 279201 filed by 1Sambayan Coalition—led by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales—along with groups of legal scholars and civic leaders.

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The petitions challenged Congress’s prolonged failure to pass a law defining and prohibiting political dynasties.

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In its ruling, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting, said, “The Supreme Court unanimously declared that Article Two, Section 26 of the Constitution requires Congress to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties. The Supreme Court held that Congress’s failure to do so for thirty-nine years constitutes grave abuse of discretion.”

Article 2, Section 26 of the Constitution provides that the “State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. 

Ting said the Supreme Court held that this provision is not merely an aspiration but a constitutional command.

It observed that “political dynasties have remained widespread and have extended even into the party-list system. Despite changes in the composition of Congress over the years, no comprehensive anti-political dynasty law has been enacted, implying either a lack of interest, avoidance for convenience, or service of self-interest. Although the Constitution does not set a deadline for Congress to enact the law, the Supreme Court held that this does not allow Congress to postpone its constitutional duty indefinitely.” /jpv