Marcos backs SC directive for passage of antidynasty bill

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said on Thursday that President Marcos supports the directive of the Supreme Court for Congress to pass an antipolitical dynasty law, adding that it remains one of his priority bills.

“The President agrees with the Supreme Court’s decision that there should be a law addressing political dynasties,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said.

“He is really pushing for its passage and wants, as much as possible, for an antipolitical dynasty law to be enacted during his term,” she added.

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READ: SC to Congress: ‘Injustice’ to delay anti-dynasty law

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Malacañang did not elaborate on its comments, saying it has yet to read the full decision of the high court which called the refusal of Congress to perform its constitutional duty in the past 39 years a “grave abuse of discretion” and “manifest injustice.”

Castro, however, said that the timetable for legislative action “is in the hands” of Congress.

READ: Passage of anti-political dynasty law is a congressional priority – Dy

According to her, the President had made clear that he wanted the measure passed but acknowledged that lawmakers were busy handling other legislative priorities.

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“We cannot blame the lawmakers in Congress because we also know that they have many responsibilities and are attending to many matters that also need to be prioritized,” Castro said.

House version panned

A bill banning political dynasties has been identified as one of the 24 priority bills that Mr. Marcos wants to be passed by June 2027, before his sixth and last State of the Nation Address.

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In June, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its version of an antipolitical dynasty bill but it was criticized by big business and advocacy groups. They claimed that it would only further entrench political families. The Senate has yet to pass its counterpart measure.

The multibillion-peso flood control scandal involving senators, district representatives, public works officials and private contractors has fueled calls for the urgent passage of such a measure.