Congress asked about law vs dynasty

THE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered both houses of Congress to comment on a petition seeking the enactment of an anti-political dynasty law.

The SC en banc gave the Senate and the House of Representatives a non-extendible period of ten days from notice to comment on the petition filed by Kapatiran Party (Alliance for the Common Good) and others.

It consolidated the petition filed by 1Sambayan Coalition and others with the earlier petitions filed by Kapatiran Party and Wilfredo Trinidad on the same issue.

The Kapatiran Party argued that the failure of Congress to pass an enabling law for over three decades constitutes a grave abuse of discretion.

Citing Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, the petition emphasizes that the provision is not merely aspirational but imposes a clear directive on the legislature to act.

The petitioners asked the SC to order both chambers of Congress to enact the necessary law and to recognize that the legislature’s long-standing inaction has effectively nullified a constitutional safeguard intended to promote equal access to public service and prevent the monopolization of political power.

Following this, the 1Sambayan Coalition filed a similar petition. Their plea aligns with Kapatiran’s in asserting that the continued failure of lawmakers to define and prohibit political dynasties represents a constitutional violation.

1Sambayan also highlighted the detrimental impact of dynastic politics on governance, accountability, and social mobility in the country. Their petition strengthens the argument for judicial intervention, stressing that the legislative gridlock can no longer be tolerated given its far-reaching consequences on democratic processes. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana