Filipinos are split over proposed measures banning political dynasties currently moving through Congress, in accordance with a recent WR Numero survey. A political expert said the result may reflect the general public’s general distrust of lawmakers in passing measures genuinely aimed toward curbing dynasties.
The survey, released on Tuesday, found that 44% of respondents objected to the push for an anti-dynasty bill, with 6.1% strongly disagreeing and 37.9% disagreeing.
In contrast, 38% of respondents expressed support for the proposed measures, with 5.6% strongly agreeing and 32.1% agreeing. The remaining respondents said they were unsure (15%), and three% said that they had never heard concerning the issue.
Each the Senate and the House of Representatives have lively versions of the long‑awaited Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, aimed toward defining and regulating the proliferation of political dynasties within the country—a mandate long envisioned by the 1987 Structure.
The Senate version features broader provisions that seek to bar overlapping terms in national and native offices and prohibit relatives from occupying positions across party-list groups and elective posts.
It also prevents immediate succession by disallowing a spouse or member of the family from taking up immediately after an incumbent’s term.
Meanwhile, the House advanced its own version, House Bill No. 6771, principally authored by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III. The measure bans political dynasties throughout the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
The home version faced backlash from other lawmakers and advocates since the bill still allows relatives to succeed each other, rotate offices, or hold positions in numerous localities.
A staunch critic of the House’s version, Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar ‘Egay’ R. Erice, said in various statements that it may very well legalize political dynasties as an alternative.
The conflicting views concerning the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, reflected within the survey, may explain the general public’s general distrust of lawmakers, Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow on the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, said.
“People see lawmakers only working for their very own personal agenda. People can’t trust lawmakers to work for the general public interest,” Mr. Yusingco said via Messenger.
“Hence, some won’t be convinced concerning the genuineness of the push for the enactment of the anti-dynasty law. It’s possible they’d moderately see the indictment and conviction of those involved within the flood control corruption scheme first,” he added.
Mr. Yusingco also described the House bill as a “farce,” noting it still allows multiple members of a family to run for various offices.
“Which implies it still allows multiple members of a family to carry different elected offices—the very definition of a fat political dynasty that the Structure mandates to be prohibited,” he said.
The anti-political dynasty bill has long been pushed in previous Congresses but has repeatedly failed resulting from lack of support from a legislature dominated by political families.
In keeping with a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, eight out of 10 lawmakers belong to political dynasties.
The WR Numero survey also asked respondents to decide on amongst pre-determined the explanation why political dynasties shouldn’t be limited.
The best proportion, 46%, said combating corruption needs to be prioritized first.
Not far behind, 43% said voters have the proper to decide on candidates even in the event that they are from the identical family.
Meanwhile, 24% said the proven leadership experience of a family is critical, and 20% said political dynasties are already a part of the country’s political culture and tradition.
Fourteen percent said government improvement will not be guaranteed even when the measure is enacted, and 9% were unsure.
Regarding reasons to limit political dynasties, 43% of respondents said it prevents monopolies of power by families, and 38% said it makes electoral competition fairer.
Also, 35% percent said it will lessen corruption in government, while 27% said it will allow more options for brand new leaders.
Fifteen percent said leaders outside political dynasties would have a probability, 14% said it will fulfill the constitutional provision on limiting political dynasties, and 6% were uncertain.
The survey also asked respondents concerning the degree to which political dynasties needs to be limited. The biggest group (31%) said it needs to be prohibited for folks, spouses, and kids.
Twenty percent said it should extend to cousins, and one other 20% were unsure. Fifteen percent wanted it banned as much as great-grandparents, uncles or aunts, and nephews or nieces.
Fourteen percent said it should include siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, and parents-in-law.
VP DUTERTE REMAINS TOP BET FOR 2028 ELECTIONS
The WR Numero survey also asked respondents about voter preference for the 2028 election. Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio stays the highest alternative of Filipino voters, while the vice presidential race is a tightly contested battle amongst three candidates.
The survey showed that greater than one-third of Filipino voters, or 35.9%, said they’d vote for the VP within the election two years from now, marking a slight increase of three percentage points from November 2025.
WR Numero said that Ms. Duterte, the primary to declare her candidacy for president in February, continues to steer the 2028 contenders but has yet to see a post-announcement surge.
Although the firm said declarations of candidacy typically don’t trigger a breakout surge.
Mr. Yusingco said the vp stays the front-runner for several reasons. Her surname carries the legacy of her father, one in every of the country’s hottest presidents.
Her current position as vp also gives the look that she is able to assume the presidency, or there may simply be no strong competition at present.
Nonetheless, he noted that Ms. Duterte’s support has remained largely unchanged since her announcement
“This is critical since it means she hasn’t gained others to her side. Her base is solid, but it will possibly also mean that is pretty much as good because it gets for her,” Mr. Yusingco said.
Trailing the vp within the survey are two viable non-Duterte-allied contenders: Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo and former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo. Senator Tulfo recorded a pre-election preference of 18.5%, up five percentage points from November, while Mayor Robredo is close behind at 15.7%, posting a three-point increase.
Nonetheless, WR Numero said public resistance to a possible “UniPink” coalition—a partnership between Mr. Marcos and opposition factions, resembling those aligned with Ms. Robredo—“constrains future alignment scenarios.”
Other candidates include Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go at 3.6%, a slight decline of 0.4 percentage points; Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV at 3.2%, up one point; and Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan at 1.4%, down 0.4 points.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alimurung, DPWH Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon, and MMDA General Manager Nicolas Deloso Torre III emerged as recent names within the presidential race, all posting lower than 1% in voter preference.
The identical figure was observed for Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros and Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla Jr.
The share of undecided voters dropped by three percentage points to 19.4% in March.
The Philippine Public Opinion Monitor of WR Numero surveyed 1,455 Filipino adults from March 10 to 17. The survey was conducted through face-to-face, computer-assisted personal interviews using a multistage sampling method.
The firm said the study has a margin of error of ±3% on the national level, with a confidence level of 95%. — Edg Adrian A. Eva