Politics: (Senate panel approves bill banning political dynasties)

MANILA - A majority of senators have approved a proposal to ban political dynasties.

Thirteen senators on Wednesday night signed Senate Bill No. 1765, which prohibits spouses and relatives of incumbent elective officials up to the second civil degree from succeeding them or simultaneously running for public office.

The consolidated bill against political dynasties was approved under Committee Report No. 367 submitted jointly by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, chaired by detained Sen. Leila de Lima, and the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, chaired by Sen. Francis Pangilinan. 

It is due to be presented to the plenary for debates.

The measure, which brought together six separate bills, defines political dynasty as the "concentration, consolidation, and/or perpetuation of public office and political powers by persons related to one another within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity."

This covers "spouses (legal and common-law), siblings (full or half-blood), parents, and children (legitimate, illegitimate, and adopted) and the spouses of these second-degree relatives."

The measure was approved by Senators Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Grace Poe, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Bam Aquino, Sherwin Gatchalian, Ralph Recto, and chairs of the committees Pangilinan and De Lima.

Lacson, Drilon, Ejercito, Poe, Aquino, and Legarda had each filed separate proposals against political dynasties. 

While the 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties as a state policy, no enabling law has been passed by Congress to enforce it.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte's charter change committee agreed to include an anti-political dynasty provision in the draft of the new constitution.