By Atty. Howie Calleja
Let’s cut to the chase: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for snap elections is as shortsighted as it gets. Sure, public trust in politicians is in the gutter—who can blame people for feeling that way? But suggesting a “clean slate” by asking officials to resign and hold new elections is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. It doesn’t fix the hole in the ship; it just gives the same crew a chance to steer it into another iceberg.
Here’s the thing: if we kick out all current officials but let them run again, what’s the point? These are the same people who’ve spent years hoarding wealth, buying votes, and manipulating the system. Do we really think they’ll suddenly grow a conscience? They’ll just dip into their stolen billions, fund flashy campaigns, and buy their way back into office—this time, maybe even more brazenly. Snap elections won’t change anything because the rules that let them cheat are still in place. It’s like playing a game of Monopoly where one player has all the money and gets to make up the rules. No matter how many times you restart, they’ll win.
And let’s not forget the loophole that makes this “clean slate” idea even more laughable: even if incumbents did sit out, their relatives—spouses, children, siblings, even cousins—would just step in. We’ve seen it time and time again: political dynasties in the Philippines are like hydras—cut off one head, and two more grow in its place. Cayetano’s proposal doesn’t address this; it just allows the same corrupt networks to rebrand themselves under a new name. If he’s serious about a “no recycling” rule, why not ban political dynasties outright, up to the fourth degree? Until then, snap elections are just a way for the same families to keep their grip on power—they’ll just send a different family member to the podium.
And let’s talk about the cost. Conducting nationwide elections isn’t cheap. We’re talking billions of pesos—money that could be used to fix our crumbling roads, build hospitals, or feed the hungry. Instead of wasting it on a do-over, we should be investing in real change: strengthening the Ombudsman to go after corrupt officials, reforming campaign finance laws to limit the influence of money in politics, and making sure every vote is counted fairly. These are the things that will actually restore trust in government—not a quick fix that lets the same crooks keep playing the game.
Cayetano says this is a “sacrifice from public servants.” But what about the sacrifice of the Filipino people? There is no sacrifice while profiting from peoples money. Clearly this is a crazy idea after failing on his ambition to become Senate President. We’ve already endured years of broken promises, stolen funds, and political drama. Asking us to go through another election just so the same politicians (or their relatives) can win again is an insult. It’s time to stop falling for these empty gestures and demand real reform.
So here’s the truth: Snap elections aren’t a solution—they’re a surrender. A surrender to the idea that we can’t fix our system, so we might as well let the same thieves (or their kin) run the show. A surrender to the lie that “change” comes from resetting the clock, not from tearing down the walls that let corruption and dynasties thrive. We’ve had enough of politicians treating our votes like a game. It’s time to stop playing. Let’s demand a system where leaders are forced to serve us—where stealing from the people isn’t just a risk, but a guarantee of prison, and where political power isn’t passed down like a family heirloom. Because until we fix the rules, no election—snap or otherwise—will ever give us the clean slate we deserve. The only way forward is to stop trusting in politicians and start trusting in ourselves to hold them accountable. Anything less is a betrayal of the Filipino people.