‘Budol’: House debates on anti-dynasty bill get heated as Erice slams ‘diluted’ bill

MANILA, Philippines – Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice struggled to contain his emotions during the first day of House plenary deliberations on the anti-political dynasty bill, as he criticized the “diluted” proposal being pushed by the majority.

“Hindi ito anti-political dynasty law. Ito po ay isang budol (This is not an anti-political dynasty law. This is a sham),” Erice said on Tuesday, March 17. “It will institutionalize political dynasties.”

Under the current version, a political dynasty relationship is set up only to the second degree of consanguinity, which means that relatives such as cousins, nephews, aunts, and uncles can still run simultaneously alongside a politician or succeed them in office immediately.

The proposal also clusters the prohibitions, allowing families to put forward candidates for a national post, a provincial post, a municipal or city government post, and as many congressional posts as possible, at the same time.

Erice said the proposal won’t do anything to put an end to the monopoly of power in areas ruled by dynasts, an opinion that bill’s sponsor, Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, disputed.

“Monopoly (occurs) when the power to appoint resides to and is exercised by one person. That is monopoly. But we allow people to vote,” said Adiong, who chairs the suffrage committee.

At one point, a visibly frustrated Erice raised his voice as he pointed out that the districts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin Martin Romualdez and son Sandro Marcos once received the highest share of funding in the national budget — something that he said won’t have happened if they are not part of the same dynasty.

“May I remind the gentleman to bring down the decibels a bit. Shouting will not do us an advantage here,” Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza, presiding over the chamber, told Erice.

Watch excerpts of the interpellation here. – Rappler.com