THE House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reform held its first public consultation on the proposed anti-dynasty law at the Carsigma Gym here on Thursday. The aim of the three-hour consultation, according to Committee Chairman and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, was to listen to the people’s opinion on the measure. “What kind of political system do you wish to experience? What protections do you want included in the anti-political dynasty bill? Where do we draw the line between preventing the excessive concentration of power and the right of the people to choose their leaders?” Adiong asked. He said the people have the right to be heard before Congress sets the boundaries of a law that would shape the country’s politics for future generations. “Rest assured that your views will serve as a guide in our continued effort to craft an anti-political dynasty law that is just, balanced and faithful to our Constitution. This is your chance to speak, and it is our duty, as your representatives, to listen,” Adiong said. He was joined by Cebu Rep. Rachel del Mar, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago and Cavite Rep. Roy Loyola, whose wife is the mayor of Carmona. In his video message, Speaker Faustino Dy III said the consultations are part of the House’s commitment to ensuring that significant laws are crafted through open and honest dialogue. “It is clear that the Filipino people have long been waiting for this. We are aware that this issue carries various perspectives, experiences and sentiments,” Dy said. Several longtime Carmona residents told the committee they oppose the proposed law, owing to the longtime service of their leaders in their locality. “We don’t have a political dynasty in our town, we have different leaders, but we don’t know if our town would either move forward, backward, sideways, or otherwise,” John dela Cruz, a resident of nearby General Mariano Alvarez town, said. Marcos Saladino proposed instead of banning corrupt families from running for office because they put a stain on political families who run their municipalities progressively. “Sinasabi po na hindi namamana ang posisyon, pero hindi naman po diktador ang ating bansa (While we say that positions are not inherited, our country, however, is not in a dictatorship),” Saladino said. Most of the young people who took part in the consultation were opposed to political dynasties, and called on the panel to pass the law. In the press briefing after the consultation, Adiong said the consultations have been “lively” and that their inputs would be incorporated in the final draft that would be passed in the plenary. “Definitely, they would be part of our basis to approach on how we provide legal definition on what really constitutes a political dynasty in this country,” Adiong said. He said the passage of the measure is only one step toward improving the country’s political system. “It should be paired with campaign finance. We should also review our campaign finance because we are talking of resources that would give undue advantage to a certain politician who has so many resources over that of a candidate with no resources at all,” Adiong said. The two other consultations will be held in the cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro in the next few weeks.