Sen. Risa Hontiveros clarified that the proposed ban on political dynasties will cover unmarried couples or domestic partners as long as they share a household and present themselves as a couple.
Speaking at a Senate consultative meeting in Marilao, Bulacan, she said the bill’s definition goes beyond civil or church marriages to close possible loopholes.
Hontiveros stressed that even officials who enter into relationships while already in office would be covered by the ban in the next election if they are cohabiting.
The proposal drew debate, with some local officials arguing the ban should apply only up to the second degree of consanguinity, while youth and civil society groups pushed for extending it to the fourth degree.
To strengthen enforcement, legal experts suggested mandatory disclosure of incumbent relatives, while others proposed a phased or locally focused rollout of the measure.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 17, 2026
