The Philippine Online Chronicles

After the national and local elections, political dynasties all over the country have become more established, trapping the country in a system of patronage and traditional politics.

According to the 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 26, “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties...”

Although a specific provision disallows political dynasties to exist, they still thrive and continue to dominate local and national politics. To date, there are over 150 political clans in the country.

University of the Philippines professor Roland Simbulan stated in a lecture that political dynasties are observed to have begun in the early 20th century when voting was limited to rich and landed Filipinos who monopolized public office.  “In other words, the lopsided structure of opportunities and the social and economic inequalities allow a few --both in the administration and opposition-- to monopolize wealth and political power.”

“For decades, wealthy and powerful families have dominated politics in the Philippines, concentrating power to the elite families, promoting corruption and abuse of power.” 

It’s in the blood

For families and clans engaged in politics, it is common that the head of the family or whoever has the best credentials will run for a local government position. Only later will the electorate realize that the entire family is already in the city and municipal hall.

Running a government office as private property, unopposed candidacies, and "pataas-pababa" or political power transferred to a family member, enable clans to dominate in local and national politics.

Even in the Senate and the House of Representatives, family reunions are constant events. In at least 34 out of the 80 provinces in the country, elected government officials are either affiliated by blood or by affinity.

In the Upper House, there are senator siblings Pia and Allan Peter Cayetano. After her term in Congress, Allan Peter’s wife Maria Laarni ran and won in the mayoralty race in Taguig City. Another Cayetano, Rene Carl, also ran in the first district in the municipality of Pateros, but lost to Arnel Cerafica.

National Capital Region

In the National Capital Region (NCR), political dynasties at the helm of municipal and city governments became the unwritten rule of local governance. In Malabon City, Tito Oreta, husband of former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, was proclaimed as mayor, while his son Len-len is the vice-mayor.

San Juan City now belongs to former president Joseph Estrada’s second family. Businesswoman Guia Gomez was elected as city mayor, replacing her son JV Ejercito, who is now the lone district’s representative. Half-brother Jinggoy Estrada is still Senator.

In Makati City, siblings Jun-Jun and Marlen Abigail Binay garnered the highest numbers of votes cast, making them mayor and second district representative, respectively. Their mother Elenita Binay was a former city mayor while their father Jejomar Binay, the outgoing Makati mayor, is now leading in the vice-presidential race.

Brothers Sherwin and Rexlon Gatchalian are starting their little empire in the northern manufacturing city of Valenzuela. They were elected as mayor and district representative, respectively. It’s the same story in Navotas City where brothers John and Toby Tiangco ran and won unopposed in the mayoralty and congressional race. In Pasay City, siblings Tony and Imelda Calixto gained the mayor and Lower House representative seats.

Luzon

The Marcoses are back. Former first lady Imelda Marcos will be a part of the 15^th Congress as representative of Ilocos Norte’s second district. She vowed to fight to get their wealth back. Imee, a former congresswoman, is now the governor. The Marcoses’ only son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. was proclaimed a senator, the highest government position ever attained by a Marcos after martial law.

Their cousin Angelo Marcos Barba won the vice-gubernatorial race.

The prominent political family of Dys made a comeback in Isabela after Faustino Dy III gained the gubernatorial spot over reelectionist Grace Padaca. It was Padaca who toppled the Dys' dominance in Isabela politics in 2004 when she won over Benjamin Dy as governor. She won a second term in 2007, but a recount made by the Comelec last year nullified Padaca’s victory. Benjamin is the mayor of Cauayan city while Napoleon Dy is the third district’s solon. Family patriarch Faustino Sr. started the Dys' reign in the province four decades ago.

In Ilocos Sur, the Singsons are unbeatable. Alleged political warlord Luis “Chavit” Singson reigned as governor-elect. His son, reelectionist Ronald Singson, is the first district representative. Eric Singson Jr., another relative, will represent the second district. Eva Marie Singson Medina, Chavit’s niece, was proclaimed as Vigan City’s mayor while Chavit’s son Ryan is the city vice mayor.

Outgoing president Gloria, her brother-in-law Iggy, and her son Mikey Arroyo will have a family get-together in the House of Representatives. The president was proclaimed Pampanga’s second district representative and her brother-in-law Ignacio Tuason Arroyo is now in his third term as the solon of Negros Occidental, while her son Mikey Arroyo is the first nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy partylist which is expected to gain a seat in the lower house.

Visayas

In Cebu, the Garcias once again dominated the province. Gwendolyn Garcia is still the governor. Her father Pablo Sr. gained the second district congressional seat while her brother Pablo John will represent the third district. Although Garcia won the race, she still isn’t satisfied with the number of votes she garnered.

Mindanao

The Duterte father-and-daughter tandem won as mayor and vice mayor of the province of Davao. Sara Duterte-Carpio captured a landslide victory against House Speaker Prospero Nograles as the mayor elect of Davao City. Long-time local executive Rodrigo Duterte garnered 80.26% of the total votes. Duterte was the city’s mayor for over a decade and his third term ended this year, which made his daughter run for the position.

Family affairs continue

Political families still reign in the government. According to a study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in 2007, two-thirds of the representatives in the Lower House were part of a political dynasty.

Money is said to be the number one factor that helps retain a political family in power.

A political campaign costs millions of pesos. Families that have the resources, machinery, and connections are capable of waging an electoral campaign to gain seat/s in local and national posts.

Simbulan proposes that “real political parties with defined programs, vision, and ideologies representing the larger sectors of society" challenge and replace political clans and dynasties. “With better economic opportunities in our socio-economic structure, we can develop a truly democratic electoral and party system,” he said.

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