Manila: The anti-political dynasty initiative, which had been placed on the government's priority legislative agenda by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in December 2025, has received renewed attention following a directive from the Supreme Court to Congress to enact the law mandated by the Constitution. Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Senate to continue its discussions on Senate Bill 1901, as laid out under Committee Report 33. She emphasized that much of the necessary legislative groundwork has been completed and should not be restarted despite changes in committee leadership.
According to Philippines News Agency, Hontiveros expressed her willingness to yield her version of the bill, stressing the importance of progressing with the legislation rather than focusing on sponsorship. Her call to action came during a plenary session, coinciding with the administration's efforts since the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting on December 9, 2025. During the meeting, President Marcos urged both legislative chambers to prioritize the anti-political dynasty measure as part of a broader governance reform agenda.
Following the President's push, the House of Representatives passed Bill 8389 on its third and final reading with significant support, and it was subsequently sent to the Senate. In her role as the head of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, Hontiveros conducted a series of consultations across various cities before finalizing Committee Report 33. The committee's efforts culminated in the creation of Senate Bill 1901, aimed at banning political dynasties in both national and local offices, including party-list representation.
Hontiveros expressed her respect for the new committee leadership's authority and her readiness to hand over the completed work, which includes consultations and discussions on key issues such as family relationships and the extent of the prohibition. Her plea followed a Supreme Court ruling that criticized Congress for failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to legislate against political dynasties, deeming this inaction a grave abuse of discretion over the past 39 years. The court has directed Congress to act on this matter promptly in accordance with Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution.
Hontiveros emphasized that the existing bill has already undergone significant legislative processes and reached plenary discussions, urging her colleagues to build upon the current progress rather than starting anew. She called for an open dialogue to address any necessary amendments or objections and to finalize the proposed legislation.
