Senator Kiko Pangilinan is seeking to amend the country’s party-list system by prohibiting members of political dynasties from becoming or substituting as a party-list representative or nominee.
Senate Bill No. 1907 aims to enhance Republic Act (RA) No. 7941, also known as the Party-List System Act.
A significant proposal in the bill is provided in Section 7, which amends Section 9 of RA No. 7941, and introduces Subsections 9-A, 9-B, and 9-C.
The spouse or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of a nominee of any party-list organization in the same election shall also be included in the prohibition.
The proposed new sections to the amended sections, “No person may become or substitute for a party-list nominee or otherwise become a party-list representative” if they are a spouse or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent president, vice president, senator, district or party-list representative, governor, vice governor, mayor, or vice mayor. The spouse or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of a nominee of any party-list organization in the same election shall also be included in the prohibition.
Pangilinan’s proposed measure also prohibits a party-list nominee or representative, or party-list organization from directly or indirectly holding contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, sub-divisions, or instrumentalities with goods, services, construction, and other works.
Furthermore, nominees or representative and their spouse or relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity cannot serve as a partner, director, officer, member, or stockholder of any corporation or partnership that holds such contracts.
Under the proposed amendments, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may motu propio or upon verified petition, remove or disqualify the party-list nominee on the ground that they do not possess any of the qualifications of a party-list nominee or that they possess any of the prohibitions.
“I acknowledge the need for legislative clarification in the implementation of the law.”
While Pangilinan recognized the role of party-list systems in proportional representation, he also acknowledged the need for “legislative clarification” in the implementation of the law, particularly in standards of sectoral representation, safeguards against conflicts of interest, voter clarity, and accountability mechanisms.
A long-time champion of good governance, the senator said that his proposal “strengthens the statutory framework of the party-list system to align its implementation with its constitutional purpose of sectoral representation”.
