08/05/2026
People's Initiative for Genuine Anti-Dynasty Bill Launched; Groups Aim to Gather 10% of Registered Voters
For Immediate Release
MANILA–Various groups launched on Friday a new grassroots campaign to pass a genuine political dynasty prohibition through a people’s initiative.
The Dapat Isa Lang (D1L) Movement aims to pass a genuine anti-dynasty prohibition: each political must only have incumbents in one national and one local elected position; the prohibition per family is up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity; no succession, replacement, or switching of positions; and a cooling-off period of 1 term after reaching term limits.
For D1L Spokesperson and Petitioner Atty. Carlo Africa, the movement’s petition will be a more efficient anti-dynasty measure, compared to some Senate and House bills, due to its use of the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity. “Unfortunately, the way we've analyzed the bills in the level of the Senate and in the level of the House, we do not believe that it will solve the problem,” Africa said. Atty. Africa added that most dynasties will remain in the Senate anti-dynasty measure, citing the need for their version of the bill: “Sa Senate version, only 32% ang political dynasties na matatanggal. But right now that also shows the majority of political dynasties will remain.”
Launched in response to current deliberations by the 20th Congress to finally enact the political dynasty prohibition prescribed by the 1987 Constitution, D1L Petitioner Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio cites the urgency of enacting the prohibition. “Congress has not defined it for almost forty years, so we are going to enact that law through the People’s Initiative,” Carpio said in his manifestation of support.
D1L’s media launch also released its manifesto, signed by a growing number of formations, organizations, individuals, and institutions from civil society, business, educational and faith-based groups, which outlined the movement’s goal to break the cycle of political dynasties due to the corruption and poverty it enables.
The manifesto reads, “This [anti-political dynasty] law will change the composition and quality of the members of Congress and the leaders in LGUs. Better laws can be passed in Congress. Better national and local budgets and infrastructure projects will be implemented.”
For Atty. Africa, the people’s initiative is a crucial step to end corruption. “Again the problem is corruption. The reason why we're doing this is because the current system allows corruption. So we believe that in order for us to really defeat corruption, we need to take out the entire system of political dynasties,” he said.
In response to questions regarding the process of signature collection to be undertaken by the movement, D1L Petitioner and Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Luie Guia cites the movement’s dialogue with Comelec last week.
He says, “Maingat ang aming paggamit ng signatures, pero may pinagaaralan pa kami na safe protocol in signature collecting. Last week, pumunta kami sa Comelec para kausapin sila at sinabi namin ang aming hangarin at ang Comelec naman ay nagcommit to make sure to help us in the integrity of the process. Isa pa din dito ay nakausap namin sila tungkol sa possibility sa adjusted na proseso na nakatakda ngayon dahil sa challenges ng proseso.” Atty. Guia also mentioned that D1L has volunteer lawyers to help in the event of legal challenges.
D1L Petitioner Atty. Eirene Aguila from the Peoples Initiative Coalition Against Dynasties also responded to the impending challenges of signature collection in light of public clamor against corruption and political dynasties. “Hindi po kami natitinag sa kahirapan ng prosesong ito. Handa na ang mga Pilipinong ipaglaban ang tunay na demokrasya. Close to 70% ang galit [sa political dynasties], hindi pwedeng 70-80 families ang humawak sa ating pamahalaan,” she added.
The press conference featured other primary petitioners of the people’s initiative: Kontra Dinastiya founder Atty. Alex Lacson, Clergy for Good Governance Convenor Fr. Robert Reyes, Catholic Educational Association Of The Philippines Advocacy And Public Engagement Officer Ms. Ina Claustro, and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Executive Director Mr. Karlo Abadines.
D1L’s manifesto expressed the movement’s need to pass the anti-dynasty measure through the people’s initiative, a Constitutional right allowing Filipino citizens to directly pass a law without going through Congress and the President saying, “This future will not be given. It must be built.” Former Justice Carpio also affirmed this right: “Our legal basis for calling [for] the Peoples Initiative to enact the Anti Political Dynasty law is based on the Constitution.”
The petitioners call on all Filipinos to join the newly established anti-political dynasty movement. Youth leader Angelica Monfero ended the press conference saying that now is the time for social change, “Lumaki tayo na ang pulitika ay para lang sa mga apelido, sa mga may makinarya, at sa mga mayayaman. Dapat baguhin na natin ang pag iisip na iyon.” # # #
Contact Information
Josh Valentin
Dapat Isa Lang Communications and Media Coordinator
[email protected]
