Con-Com allows 2 family members to run in same elections

Summary

On Tuesday, the Consultative Committee voted to permit two relatives to run for national and local positions in the same elections, as part of ongoing discussions to regulate political dynasties in the Federal Constitution. The vote allows relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to compete, but restricts them to one national post and one local or regional post. This means they cannot both seek national positions like president and vice president or local roles such as governor and mayor. The committee has yet to decide whether senators and House representatives will be considered national positions.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ The Consultative Committee voted to allow at most two relatives to run for national and local/regional positions in the same elections.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Relatives eligible to run must not have any incumbent officials among them.
• 📜 This vote is part of ongoing discussions to regulate political dynasties in the Federal Constitution.
• 🤝 The proposal is set to be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte for consideration.
• 🗳️ Twelve committee members voted in favor of allowing two relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to run.
• 🏛️ The two relatives can only run for one national post and one local or regional post.
• 🚫 Both relatives cannot seek national positions like president and vice president simultaneously.
• 🚫 They also cannot both pursue local or regional positions like governor, mayor, or barangay captain.
• 🔍 The committee has not yet decided whether to classify senators and members of the House of Representatives as national positions.
• ⚖️ The move aims to address concerns over political dynasties and their influence in politics.

Q & A

What was the main topic discussed by the Consultative Committee?

The main topic was the regulation of political dynasties in the Federal Constitution, specifically allowing at most two relatives to run for national and local positions in the same elections.

What conditions must be met for two relatives to run in the same elections?

The conditions state that no relative of the candidates can be an incumbent official.

What specific degrees of consanguinity or affinity does the proposal cover?

The proposal allows two relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to run for the same elections.

Can both relatives seek national positions?

No, the two relatives can only run for one national post and one local or regional post, meaning they cannot both seek national positions like president and vice president.

What about local or regional posts?

Similarly, they cannot both seek local or regional posts like governor, mayor, or barangay captain.

What remains undecided by the committee regarding national positions?

The committee has yet to decide if senators and members of the House of Representatives will be considered as national positions under this regulation.

Who proposed the vote to allow relatives to run in elections?

The proposal was part of ongoing deliberations by the Consultative Committee and will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

What does this decision imply for the political landscape in the Philippines?

This decision may lead to a shift in how political dynasties operate, potentially allowing more relatives to participate in elections while maintaining some limitations on their roles.

How did the committee members vote on the proposal?

The 12 members of the committee voted in favor of allowing two relatives to run for the same elections under the specified conditions.

What is the significance of regulating political dynasties?

Regulating political dynasties aims to promote fairness in elections, reduce the concentration of power within families, and encourage a more diverse political representation.