.. 
MATAPOS ang serye ng public consultations at committee hearings sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa, inaprubahan ng House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, na pinamumunuan ni Lanao Del Sur 1st District Zia Alonto Adiong, ang substitute bill para sa isinusulong na Anti-Political Dynasty Law.
Pagmamalaki ni Adiong, hudyat ito ng matibay na hakbang para tugunan ang nasa halos apat na dekadang mandatong itinatakda ng Saligang Batas para sa Kongreso na bumalangkas ng malinaw na depinisyon ng political dynasty.
““This is progressive. This is one step forward… in the first place, we do not have an anti-political dynasty as of yet being implemented in this country,” mariing sabi pa ng House panel chair.
“What we can assure you is that this version, we tried to decongest yung political unit from a culture of one political family. Hindi dapat magkaroon ng concentration of power in one LGU,” sambit ng Lanao del Sur solon.
Sa naturang substitute measure, ipinagbabawal ang political dynasties o ang pagkakaroon ng posisyon sa iisang political unit ng magkakamag-anak hanggang sa second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
“Ibig sabihin, Vice Mayor, asawa; kapatid, anak, Mayor — yun talaga iyong may concentration ng power because it weakens the very foundation of democracy, which is checks and balances. So, we try to address that,” ang paliwanag pa ni Adiong sa inaprubahang bersyon ng Anti-Political Dynasty Bill.
“At the same time, the proposal does not impose a blanket prohibition on relatives participating in elections in separate localities,” dugtong ng kongresista.
Ikinalugod naman at pinasalamatan ni Speaker Faustino Dy III ang naturang komite sa mahusay na pagtalakay at maagap na pag-apruba ng panukalang batas.
“The committee action moves the measure one step closer to becoming law, advancing legislation that seeks to prohibit the concentration of elective political power within families at both the national and local levels,” sabi ng House Speaker.
“For nearly four decades, the Constitution has directed Congress to prohibit political dynasties. Today, we move closer to fulfilling that mandate,” dagdag pa niya.
Kabilang sa naaprubahan ay ang House Bill No. 6671, na pangunahing akda nina Dy at Marcos, na siyang magiging working draft ng consolidated measure.
“The second-degree coverage is the product of listening, careful study, and efforts to find common ground. It reflects a balanced approach instituting this long overdue reform; firm enough to give real meaning to the constitutional ban, yet measured enough to ensure fairness and practical implementation,” paglalarawan ni Dy sa lumusot na substitute measure.
“The House is serious about upholding the Constitution in full—not selectively, but faithfully. This groundbreaking reform seeks to establish fairness, equal access to public office, and a more level playing field wherein leadership is determined by merit and the will of the people, not by the consolidation of political power within a single family.” (ROMER R. BUTUYAN)
