Barzaga Explains Why It's So Difficult to Pass an Anti-Dynasty Bill

Public anger is forcing Congress to confront a question it has avoided for nearly four decades. Can lawmakers pass a real anti-political dynasty law when many belong to the same political families it would restrict? In a recent PGMN episode, PGMN anchor Atty. Rowena Guanzon asked former Congressman Kiko Barzaga whether lawmakers, especially those involved in corruption, now feel the anger of Filipinos. Barzaga pointed to harsh online reactions against Congress as evidence of how deeply public resentment has grown. Barzaga said fear could force some lawmakers to change. But it could also make corrupt officials more desperate to collect as much money as possible before leaving the country. The discussion then turned to House Bill 8389, the anti-political dynasty measure backed by House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos and approved by the House on June 3, 2026. The bill restricts relatives within the second degree from seeking certain positions in the same locality, but still allows members of political families to run elsewhere. Barzaga said the measure may restrict lawmakers, but not enough to satisfy Filipinos demanding real reform. Congress, he argued, is trying to please the public without seriously threatening the political families inside it, two interests he believes are now mutually exclusive. Guanzon also challenged lawmakers to waive their salaries, while Barzaga placed their monthly pay at roughly ₱300,000. He argued that even higher official salaries could cost taxpayers less than unchecked corruption, with Guanzon adding that salaries are small compared with kickbacks. The Constitution has directed the State to prohibit political dynasties since 1987, but Congress still holds the power to define that prohibition. For Filipinos, the real test is whether lawmakers will finally place public accountability above the political system that keeps their own families in power.