President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has directed Congress to “take a closer look” and prioritize the passage of an anti-dynasty measure, among others, in order “institutionalize transparency and accountability.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a press briefing announced that Marcos gave the instructions during a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting earlier this morning.

Several reform advocates have noted that the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits political dynasties, but the lack of an enabling law has allowed political clans to consolidate power until more than half of incumbent public officials now come from dynasties.

Aside from the anti-dynasty bill, Marcos also urged Congress to pass as soon as possible the following bills:

  • Party-list System Reform Act

• Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability

• Independent People’s Commission Act

The Palace announcement comes days after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) may be dismantled in about 2 months, and as several sectors continue to clamor for a more independent body that is created through a law instead of a presidential order.

Under Congress rules, bills certified by the President as urgent may go directly into third and final reading instead of waiting for 3 days before it can hurdle one reading to the next.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was looking to expedite the proposed Independent People’s Commission Act.    

“Fastbreakin namin. Basta hopefully matapos namin, maisingit namin before Christmas break. And then perhaps baka pasa yon by January,” he said.