CONFUSION and calls for transparency marked the final leg of the “Kontra Dinastiya” public consultations here, as participants struggled to navigate seven competing versions of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law.
The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, met with a jam-packed crowd at the Xavier University covered court.
However, many attendees — largely students — admitted they were unprepared for the technical complexity of the measures.
“I admit I was not able to find time to read the different versions. I had so many class assignments,” said LJ Dawn Dapanas, a first-year law student at XU.
The tension peaked when Robert de la Serna, an NGO leader, challenged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to formally name the prominent political families dominating Northern Mindanao.
Comelec-10 Director Renato Magbutay declined to provide names, saying, “It is public knowledge who the families are”.
The refusal drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Pangilinan argued that the Comelec must show the “political will” to confront entrenched interests so the public can better support the measure.
Northern Mindanao remains a stronghold for several influential clans, including the Dimaporos of Lanao del Norte, the Oaminals of Misamis Occidental, the Rodriguezes of Cagayan de Oro, and the Uys of Misamis Oriental.
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung foundation noted that such dynasties create a “vicious cycle” where economic power remains concentrated in a few hands.
Hontiveros noted that an anti-dynasty law has been mandated since the 1987 Constitution.
While various versions exist, she expressed support for the Akbayan proposal, which would ban relatives of public officials up to the fourth degree of consanguinity from seeking office.
