Palace: Anti-dynasty bill can't be rushed

Stressing President Marcos' seriousness in backing the anti-dynasty bill, Malacañang called on lawmakers yesterday to study it carefully and address loopholes before passing the measure.

- By HELEN FLORES

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro was responding to criticisms that the version of the bill jointly filed by Speaker Bojie Dy and presidential son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, has loopholes and does not effectively curb political dynasties.

"That's why passing a law should not be rushed. It should be studied, properly debated, there are proper sharing of suggestions, opinions and views must be heard," Castro told reporters in Filipino and English at a Palace briefing.

"It is better that it is done properly. It should not be rushed so that when it is passed, there are no loopholes, no gray areas," she added.

Critics claimed that the bill filed by Dy and Marcos falls short of the Constitution's mandate because rather than prohibiting political dynasty, the bill just limits it. The anti-dynasty bill is said to be among the priority measures of the administration.

Castro said the President had already asked lawmakers to study the bill carefully and pass it as soon as possible during the recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting at the Palace.

She said a law banning political dynasties must be beneficial to the Filipino people.

To Akbayan's claim that the declaration of the anti-dynasty bill as a priority measure is mere propaganda or optics, Castro said, "Rushing the passage of bills even if inadequate, that's optics."

Cha-cha first

The proposed anti-political dynasty bill cannot stand without amending the Constitution, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said yesterday.