Politicians Promise Notarization Act (Proposed)
In recent years, several democracies have introduced mechanisms to strengthen political accountability by transforming public promises into traceable, enforceable commitments. In Mexico, candidates are increasingly required to submit written policy pledges tied to measurable indicators. In South Korea, campaign promises are monitored by citizen watchdogs empowered by law to report discrepancies. These practices reflect a growing global recognition that verbal assurances alone are insufficient in a modern democracy - promises must be institutionalized as legal commitments.
In the Philippines, however, political promises remain largely rhetorical. In 2010, then-President Benigno Aquino III publicly committed to passing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, but the measure languished in Congress and was never enacted during his six-year term. In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte boldly promised to eliminate drugs, corruption, and criminality within three to six months, a timeline that proved unrealistic and unachievable. These high-profile examples underscore the urgent need for a legal framework that turns political pledges into formal, accountable contracts with the people.
The Politicians Promise Notarization Act seeks to establish a clear, enforceable mechanism to hold public officials accountable for significant public promises. Under this law, any elected or appointed official - whether campaigning, newly elected, or currently in office - who makes a promise involving major public impact, large-scale funding, or complex execution must file a Notarized Promise Affidavit within seven (7) calendar days of the public declaration.
The affidavit must include:
- A specific and verifiable description of the promise;
- An estimated implementation timeline;
- The primary steps toward execution; and
- A voluntary, self-imposed penalty for non-fulfillment without just cause.
To ensure transparency, the affidavit shall be published online via the official government website or verified Facebook page of the official, allowing the public to monitor which commitments are legally binding and which are not.
Repeated failure to submit the affidavit or fulfill notarized promises may result in escalating penalties, ranging from salary deductions to multi-year disqualifications from holding public office. Additionally, officials with multiple violations may be publicly designated as “Deceptive Promisers” to inform voters and promote electoral accountability.
This law redefines political speech not as a tool for emotional persuasion, but as a legal and moral contract with the people. It strengthens the integrity of public service by ensuring that promises made in the public sphere carry enforceable weight - and are no longer dismissed as rhetoric without consequence.
This proposal is respectfully submitted in the hope that it will restore dignity to public commitments and promote a culture of truthful leadership and measurable governance.