Why the Philippines Needs Anti-Political Dynasty Law

 

                             

“The state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibits political dynasties as maybe defined by law,” says Section 26, State Policies, 1987 Philippine Constitution. The congressmen and senators are therefore required to pass laws to implement that provision. However, after three decades they are yet to act on it. Instead of fading out, political dynasties have grown bigger, dominating the political landscape from Luzon to Mindanao. 

The country has had leaders from political families from the national to local levels since its independence from the United States. However, issues such as poverty, corruption, underdevelopment and others persist, and people think that their leaders or their political systems have failed them. It will be an exaggeration to say that political dynasties are the root cause of our problems, but certainly it is one of them. Eliminating one of the issues which is political dynasty is a step in the right direction to move this country forward.  It is imperative for the legislators to pass anti-political dynasty laws because: 1) They are mandated by the constitution to do it, 2) the people expected them to do their duty, and 3) the good of the people must prevail over their self-interest. Below are some more reasons to have an anti-political dynasty law:  

Political dynasties treat government offices like family business. The head of political dynasty is not content with having an elective position all alone. He wants to share the privilege with his family. This will result in a family with members holding multiple government positions all at the same time from the national down to local levels including the barangay. An example of dynasties monopolizing public office is the senate where there are four pairs of siblings who are senators which is equivalent to 1/3 of the total number of 24 senators in that chamber. 

Political dynasties undermine our electoral system. Most often, politicians from political families are among the rich in a community. They have the name, the money, and the political machineries for an election. Over time, long entrenched politicians who mostly belong to political families would learn the tricks of winning elections. These include vote buying and patronage politics such as giving ayudas which are aimed especially to lower income groups who comprised the largest percentage of voters. For these reasons, it is hard for a qualified and well-intentioned candidate to beat them. Candidates from dynasties always win elections because the playing field is not level on the side of their opponents.       

Political dynasties hijack the party list system- The party list system is introduced in the 1987 constitution to enable the underprivileged and underrepresented sectors to have a voice in congress. However, political families also intruded into the party list so that some of its representatives came from dynastic families. This creates a situation where two or more representatives come from just one family or clan. This situation has defeated the purpose of party list representation in congress. 

Political dynasties breed corruption. Long serving politicians such as senators and representatives who belong to political families have a say on government infrastructure projects under their jurisdiction. This will make them in contact with DPWH officials, other government agencies and private contractors involved in project implementation. Over time, their connections make them close to each other, and it’s highly likely that kickbacks and commissions will become a secret deal in their transactions. In the flood control investigation by congress in Bulacan and other parts of the country hundreds of billions of pesos are wasted through corruption. Most of those involved politicians came from dynastic families. It is not just enough to punish the culprits since people who will take their place might be as corrupt or more corrupt as the people they replace with. Fixing the system might be a better way to prevent the wrongdoings from persisting.

What can be done to check the growth of political dynasties:                                                                

Massive information campaigns should be conducted to educate the people about the negative effects of political dynasties. This can be done through the social or mainstream media and even through the ordinary people since nowadays information can be easily accessed with a cell phone. Church, civil society, schools, students and the youth particularly the millennials and Gen Z generations should be tapped for this endeavor. Their clamor will make the topic of anti-political dynasty an issue in the 2028 election which will make voters support anti-political dynasty candidates. If majority of them win, then a law could be passed in the next congress.

If above method fails, then a people’s initiative will be another remedy. People can make laws they want if the lawmakers are negligent or unwilling to perform their mandate. The initiative needs the verified signatures of 10% of total number of registered voters in the Philippines, with at least 3% of total number of verified registered voters for each legislative districts.

The last resort is a constitutional convention. This time there will be delegates who will deliberate not only on political dynasty but also on other matters of importance. There will be amendments or changes to the 1987 Constitution as the delegates may deem appropriate under the circumstances.

 

Political Dynasty, a Social Ill in the Philippines

Updated October 5, 2025

Webster Dictionary defines a dynasty as “a succession of rulers from the same line or descent”.  The reign of ancient rulers’ family and their descendants in China and the absolute monarchies of Europe are example of dynasty. Emperors and kings ruled and when they were gone, their power was passed to an appointed successor who was a member of the same family. In the Philippine setting whether at the national or local level a political dynasty means a reign of a family and its relatives whose members occupy different elective positions in a particular area all at the same time. This kind of practice can be termed as oligarchy which the Webster Dictionary defines as “a government for the few or a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes”.   In the Philippines it is the practice of some politicians to have members of the family hold different elective positions thereby controlling the political and economic landscape of a particular area. Once it establishes its stronghold, the political family uses its influence and financial resources at their disposal to hold on to power for as long as possible. A political family is also a dynasty since most often power is passed from one member of a family to another and its reign can last for many years or over a generation or beyond.                                                                                                                                                

Aware of the maladies caused by political dynasties, the framers of 1987 constitution made a provision which is Article 2, Section 26 on State Policies that says: “The state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibits dynasties as maybe defined by law”.  Legal minds have it that said constitutional provision needs an enabling law in order to be effectively implemented. The present constitution has been in effect since February 11, 1987, and since then many congresses have come and gone. However, the past and present set of legislators has not passed a bill to deal on the issue of political dynasty. Many people doubt that any of the legislators would initiate an action with regard to the matter considering that many of them come from political families. A law of that kind will certainly diminish the legislators’ political influence or power in their respective areas or districts.

The constitution has also provided for a term-of-office limit to elected public officials. This provision should have been one of the ways to help prevent the emergence of political dynasties. But politicians have gotten away with it by simply running to a lower position when his term expires, and takes it back when his subservient ally has served out his term of office. With this practice politicians are able to stay long in office as they wish despite the constitutional ban.

The 1987 constitution also provides for a party list system where marginalized and underrepresented sectors or groups who have little chance against traditional politicians in elections are given an opportunity to serve in the legislative body through that system. At first the process worked smoothly, members of marginalized groups and leftists were able to win seats in congress. Then came the 2013 Supreme Court rulings that said that party list groups do not need to organize along sectoral lines, and do not need to represent any marginalized and underrepresented sector. This declaration opened the door to traditional political families and the rich to exploit the party list. Because of their influence and material resources, political families or dynasties have consequently won substantial number of seats in the house of congress in the party list. It is ironic that the party list system which was originally intended for the poor and marginalized groups  has become a tool for the political families or dynasties and the elites to gain more seats in congress and further strengthen their political powers and influence.

Some politicians contend that there is nothing wrong with political dynasty since it is ultimately the people who decide if a person will hold an elective position or not. They say that a well qualified and dedicated person should not be denied of his right to serve a public office for the mere reason that he belongs to a political family. That statement is theoretically correct. However, the reality in Philippine politics is that more often than not it is only the well entrenched, well connected and moneyed politicians who usually win an election.  In the Philippines most of the voters belong to the lower income group. And because of their number their votes is a crucial factor in the outcome of an election. Because of their poverty, the poor people are the most vulnerable to fall prey on traditional politicians’ trick to provide for the poor’s immediate day’s needs like food and money during election time in exchange of their votes. Winning over those types of voters needs huge financial resources. Simply put, it is difficult for a deserving person of ordinary means to run against an incumbent politician let alone one who is a member of a powerful political family or clan.

Political dynasties in the Philippines are sprouting like mushrooms. Not all of them are bad and some are honest and dedicated to serve their constituents. In some cases the existence of political dynasty has even benefited the people of a particular area. But generally political dynasty is not good for the Philippine democracy and well being of the Filipinos. Political dynasty is a system that brings about corruption, unequal political and economic opportunities, nepotism and patronage system in job opportunities and the monopoly of political and economic powers over a long period of time by few people who belong to the same family or clan.

 After all these years politicians still ignore the anti-dynasty provision. It will only be the sovereign people who can do that for them through people’s initiative, or through a petition to the Supreme Court to order the legislators to do their mandate. The matter can also be made as an issue in the next election so that voters reject candidates who belong to family dynasty. The clamor of the youth, civil society and other well-meaning groups is needed to compel our legislators to do their task. And maybe, the passing of anti-dynasty law is the missing link that will move this country forward.