By Atty. Howie Calleja
Sadly, despite the imposition of term limitations as an institutional change in the 1987 constitution to prevent dynastic ascendency after Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 15-year rule; powerful families were still able to sidestep restrictions and place more relatives in office, giving them an unfair advantage in politics both locally and nationally.
Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency of the Philippines in May 2022, marking the return of the Marcos family to power. Malacañan Palace was their residence for 20 years, when his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ruled the country from 1965 to 1986. Their relatives, the Romualdezes, are primarily involved in local politics, particularly in the province of Leyte and Tacloban City — the territorial influence of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
His predecessor, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the family patriarch, served as mayor of Davao City for more than two decades before becoming president of the Philippines in 2016. Members of the Duterte family are also active in politics. Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, is the current vice president of the Philippines and was Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s running mate during the 2022 election. Sebastian is the current mayor of Davao City, while his brother, Paolo is the representative for Davao’s first congressional district.
From these two prominent families this list will go on and on both nationally and locally (e.g. Cayetanos, Villars, Arroyos, etc.). In fact, based on the study conducted by Ateneo School of Government, from 1988 to 2019, the percentage of fat dynasties in Philippine politics increased from 19% to 29%, with approximately 170 positions added per election year. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig City’s political family contended that term limitation is why political dynasty flourishes. He called the three-year term limit “too short” for local positions. As a result, politician’s kin are impelled to run for office to continue and implement community projects that will assist the people.
Well, this argument is all empty. Various studies have revealed that political dynasties have a detrimental impact on governance and development, with territories dominated by incumbent powerful clans are suffering from extreme poverty. Aren’t you sickened of the recycling of family members into elective posts — son or daughter in place of a parent or vice versa; a spouse for the other spouse; a sibling in place of another sibling; several members of the family running simultaneously for elective posts are almost prevalent everywhere. And the most shameful of all: close relatives running for No. 1 and No. 2 positions in the same political jurisdiction.
Besides the “stagnation” (of maintaining the “societal status quo”) of having the same family govern; we lose the opportunity of having other brilliant minds serve the betterment of the locality and of the nation. And, notwithstanding the inherent vested interest of maintaining the “family” interest over the “public’s” interest; public governance will always be doomed under a dynastic rule. By the way, the only way for dynastic power to remain intact is to use “patronage politics” which uses “public funds” in the guise of “ayuda” to maintain public loyalty. These dynasties make the poor dependent on them for doleouts.
It is time to break free from such “dynastic ploys” and give the right men and women the chance to genuinely serve us. As, we always say in PPCRV when I once served as its chief legal counsel, BOTO KO, DANGAL KO, IPAGTATANGGOL KO!
