Two former Supreme Court (SC) justices, along with one of the framers of the Constitution, are leading a new petition before the High Court, seeking to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law, citing decades of inaction on a provision mandated by the 1987 Constitution.
The petitioners, led by former SC Associate Justices Antonio T. Carpio and Conchita Carpio-Morales, and constitutional framer Atty. Christian Monsod, argue that Congress has failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to define and prohibit political dynasties, thereby exacerbating inequality and hindering national progress.
In their petition filed on March 31, they urge the SC to exercise its power to compel Congress to legislate a law that will define “political dynasty” as required by Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution.
“The 1987 Constitution commands Congress to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties. This is a ministerial and mandatory duty,” the petition states.
The petitioners assert that Congress’ repeated failure to act on this issue has undermined democratic representation and entrenched political monopolies that have hindered the country’s development.
“The failure to pass such a law is not merely neglect—it actively harms the democratic representation of the Filipino people,” they argue.
The petition also highlights how political dynasties have contributed to deepening poverty in the country, with the same families maintaining control over key political positions for decades.
“We now have a government filled with elective officials whose primary qualifications are neither their character nor competence, but rather their luck in the genetic lottery,” the petition reads.
Based on recent data, political dynasties control about 87% of provincial governments and 76% of city governments in the Philippines, with around 80% of district representatives also linked to dynastic families.
Furthermore, the petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to act as the guardian of the Constitution, arguing that the people’s will has been stifled by the lack of action on this issue.
Among the petitioners, include members of 1SAMBAYAN, Advocates for National Interest, religious leaders, lawyers and constitutional advocates, and members of the UP Law Class of 1975.
Prior to this petition, two attempts were made—one in March 2024 by a coalition of lawyers and another in November 2022 by the Kapatiran Party—both seeking to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law, yet neither prompted action.
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