MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today expressed confidence that the proposed anti-dynasty bill stands a good chance in Congress, especially with the backing of President Aquino who recently threw his support for the bill's passage.
“Sa Senado po, amin pong maipapasa ang anti-dynasty bill. Sa aking tingin, susuportahan naman ito ng aking mga kasama sa Senado dahil makakabuti ito sa estado ng ating pulitika,” Drilon said during a radio interview.
(“We could pass the anti-dynasty bill in the Senate. In my view, my colleagues in the Senate would support its passage, since it will improve the state of our country’s politics.”)
Drilon said he expects his fellow senators “to give the bill a fighting chance, and that they will uphold the democratic interests of our people foremost once we commence debating and crafting the anti- political dynasty bill.”
Earlier, the Senate leader urged his colleagues to allow a constructive debate over the proposed measure.
“I would like to believe that my colleagues in the Senate understand how important the end of political dynasties would be to the progress of Philippine governance. Support for the measure among senators would not be hard to achieve,” he said.
The Senate chief added that “as lawmakers of the land, it is our duty to ensure that provisions under the Constitution – which include the prohibition of political dynasties – are made into active and fully working laws.”
Drilon stressed that the country has waited long enough to pass the enabling law that will completely ban political dynasties from Philippine governance, as stated under the 1987 Constitution.
“Sa Senado po, amin pong maipapasa ang anti-dynasty bill. Sa aking tingin, susuportahan naman ito ng aking mga kasama sa Senado dahil makakabuti ito sa estado ng ating pulitika,” Drilon said during a radio interview.
(“We could pass the anti-dynasty bill in the Senate. In my view, my colleagues in the Senate would support its passage, since it will improve the state of our country’s politics.”)
Drilon said he expects his fellow senators “to give the bill a fighting chance, and that they will uphold the democratic interests of our people foremost once we commence debating and crafting the anti- political dynasty bill.”
Earlier, the Senate leader urged his colleagues to allow a constructive debate over the proposed measure.
“I would like to believe that my colleagues in the Senate understand how important the end of political dynasties would be to the progress of Philippine governance. Support for the measure among senators would not be hard to achieve,” he said.
The Senate chief added that “as lawmakers of the land, it is our duty to ensure that provisions under the Constitution – which include the prohibition of political dynasties – are made into active and fully working laws.”
Drilon stressed that the country has waited long enough to pass the enabling law that will completely ban political dynasties from Philippine governance, as stated under the 1987 Constitution.
“It has been past three decades already, and given the administration's reformist stance, we enjoy a supportive political climate, so every opportunity that has been unavailable in previous years is now with us lawmakers to act on," said Drilon.
Drilon noted that the House version of the anti-political dynasty bill, HB 3587, has been already sponsored before the plenary last May, and is steadily gaining support among congressmen, capped off by House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s expression of support towards the initiative.
“Once the House of Representatives finish and pass their version of the anti- political dynasty bill, we in the Senate will immediately pick up and start our discussions towards the passage of the version in the upper chamber,” he explained.
“We need to listen to the demands of the people. We have already done it with the end of the pork barrel. The Senate heard and acted on the people's clamor to abolish the pork barrel and we shall do it again," he said.
