Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson wants to use his retirement to help halt political dynasties.
Facilitating the public hearing of Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, Lacson said he would unlikely seek reelection in the future to give way for his son who has political plans in Cavite.
"Personally, I'm against political dynasty. You know my son is running for vice governor in Cavite, If he wins big and attempts to run for governor in 2016, that should signal my retirement from politics," Lacson said.
"It would be as if he will kick me out of politics. There should only be one (Lacson holding elective post)," he added in a panel hearing several bills on electoral reform on Tuesday morning.
Lacson's 38-year-old son Jay will run against Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla's son, Jolo, for vice gubernatorial race in Cavite in May 2013.
Lacson, who will reportedly be appointed as anti-crime czar in Malacañang once his term expires in 2013, is the only incumbent senator who categorically supported Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's Anti-Political Dynasty bill.
In her bill, Santiago seeks to prevent the spouse or relatives within second civil degree of consaguinity of an incumbent elective official from running for a public post within the same province.
Her legislation also aims to stop members of the same family or extended families from holding the same elective office immediately after the end of the incumbent's term.
Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) executive director Louie Guia asked the panel to extend the definition of political dynasty to families and relatives of incumbent elected officials on the national level.
Guia proposed for a law that would stop candidates from running for a local elective post if they are related to an incumbent official holding a national elective position.
Lacson, who also chairs Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, said there should be a law that complies candidates to follow a provision in the 1987 Constitution against political dynasty.
But National Citizens' Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) secretary-general Eric Alvia said the bill could be detrimental to public interest.
Alvia explained it would be unfair for a candidate, who may be more qualified than his family or relative already elected in a public post, to be barred from running because of his relations.
He issued the statement as he doubted the approval of Santiago's Anti-political dynasty bill in the Senate next year.
Apart from Lacson, are four incumbent senators who do not have family members or relatives sitting or running for public post such as Santiago, Loren Legarda, Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, Joker Arroyo, and Franklin Drilon.
At one point in their careers, Senators Lito Lapid and Francis "Chiz" Escudero had been elected in office while their son (former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid) and father (late Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero) occupied local posts.
Fourteen early winners in the party-list race have been named Friday even as the protracted count of votes continues.
