Dapat Isa Lang (D1L), a movement to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law through a people’s initiative, was launched May 8, 2026 at Obispado de Cubao. It seeks to limit political families to one seat at the national level (President, Vice President, Senate, House of Representatives, party list), and one seat at the provincial level (Governor all the way to Barangay Kagawad), to cover relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, and ban dynastic succession without a one-term cooling-off period.
Started by Kontra Dinastiya, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), Clergy for Good Governance (CGG), Democratic Insights Group, 1Sambayan, Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) and Hiraya, the movement is a people’s initiative: the power of the people granted by the 1987 Constitution (Article VI, Section 32). It is the power to directly propose and enact laws—without Congress or the President—through signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters nationwide and three percent in every legislative district.
The author (middle) with CGG’s Lourdes Hipolito, Mina Bee, Fr. Robert Reyes, and GTTAN’s Roberto Ticzon
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 6735, otherwise known as the “Initiative and Referendum Act,” as implemented by COMELEC Resolution No. 10650, a group of petitioners from the People’s Initiative Coalition Against Dynasties (PICAD) initiated a proposal to enact a national law entitled “The Anti-Political Dynasty Act.” The duly authorized personalities who will file the Petition and represent the movement to sign and do or perform any and all acts necessary for the petition to prosper and succeed are as follows: former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, CGG convenor Fr. Robert P. Reyes, Kontra Dinastiya founder Atty. Alex L. Lacson, former Comelec Commisioner Luie Tito F. Guia, JRI chair Atty. Alex B. Cabrera, SLB executive director Miguel Karlo L. Abadines, D1L spokesperson Atty. Carlo Gino G. Africa, and PICAD petitioner Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila.
Democratic Insights Group’s (DIG) Telibert Laoc, Fr. Robert Reyes, the author, Atty. Alex Lacson, Roberto Ticzon, Luie Guia
SUBHEAD: It has been a vicious systemic cycle because the same people collude to keep themselves in power
For decades now, our country has been mucked in the quagmire of corruption, and our people have been stuck in extreme poverty. The corrupt always go scot-free and are held unaccountable. It has been a vicious systemic cycle because the same people collude to keep themselves in power. And these are the political dynasties who ride roughshod over the powerless populace.
At the launch of D1L, Justice Carpio pointed out that there have been many studies, and many have analyzed that the biggest corruption happens in the budget because the political dynasties have continued to gain more and more seats of power. Dynasties now control 87 percent of the provinces, 83 percent of legislative districts, and 75 percent of the cities. And every year, they perpetuate themselves in power, entrenched in the House and Senate.
Atty. Alex Lacson emphasized the need for a genuine anti-political dynasty law to change the quality of the members of Congress. He said, “If that happens, our national budget will be better prepared, our national infrastructure projects will be better planned and implemented. The passage of law will lead to other important reforms that will perfect our democracy.”
Lacson said that the petition has the support of the Justice Reform Initiative and the business sectors represented by the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, and the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEZ), among others.
Fr. Robert Reyes, better known as the Running Priest, said that within 24 hours after the release of the manifesto, more than 150 priests and bishops nationwide, including Bishop Elias Ayuban of the Diocese of Cubao, have signed up. Som did more than 40 organizations, including the Global Transparency and Transformation Advocates Network (GTTAN) represented by Roberto Ticzon, who came all the way from New Jersey.
D1L is looking at a formation of a non-partisan coalition engaged with civil society groups and political personalities with clear shared standards for a genuine anti-political dynasty bill, and a goal of passing the bill through a people’s initiative campaign.
Father Reyes called on the children of the dynasties to be a part of the nationwide campaign. “Ang laking bagay na isang Sotto ng Pasig will say: Dapat Isa Lang.” (It’s a huge thing if a Sotto from Pasig will say, Dapat Isa Lang.) He added, “Children and grandchildren, I know you love your parents, your grandparents, your elders. But if you really love them, convince them.” He said that they should learn to love God above all, country next, then family. The family is only third.
Dapat Isa Lang Movement is calling for volunteers who are ready to take a stand, lend their time and skills, and help amplify the call for a genuine anti-political dynasty law in our country!
Sign-up today by clicking the link below or scanning the provided qr code at Dapat Isa Lang FB Page. 👉 https://bit.ly/joinD1L
