MANILA — Malacañang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed the ongoing nationwide public consultations on the anti-political dynasty bill and is open to certifying the measure as urgent once both houses of Congress submit their final versions.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing that the President was pleased with the consultations because enacting the bill aligns with the wishes of Filipino citizens.

“Natuwa po ang Pangulo dahil ang nais po ng Pangulo ay ma-isabatas po ang nasabing bill, anti-political dynasty bill, dahil iyan din po ang nais ng ating mga kababayan (The President was happy because the President wanted the said bill, the anti-political dynasty bill, to be enacted, because that is also what the citizens want),” Castro said.

Castro added that certification as urgent would depend on the provisions included in the versions submitted by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Kapag po na-ibigay na po iyong version ng dalawang Kongreso para po malaman kung dapat po ba itong i-certify as urgent dahil depende po iyan sa provision, makakaasa po kayo diyan (Once the version has been submitted to both Congresses to determine whether it should be certified as urgent because that depends on the provision, you can count on that),” she said.

House Bill 6771, filed by House Speaker Faustino Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, seeks to implement the 1987 Constitution’s policy on political dynasties by defining prohibited family relationships and setting limits on the holding of elective posts.

The measure would bar relatives of an incumbent elected official seeking reelection from running for or holding any elective post.

During the recently concluded Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), President Marcos approved 21 priority bills, including the anti-political dynasty proposal, which remains pending in Senate and House committees.