The Makabayan Coalition, led by its 11-member slate for the Senate in the 2025 elections and member partylists, launched an anti-political dynasty campaign today, Monday, September 14.
In a media event in Quezon City, Makabayan said it challenges fellow candidates in rejecting the prevalent practice while it called on the people to elect candidate who will truly represent the interests of the Filipino people.
“We are very alarmed at the prevalence of political dynasties in the coming 2025 elections. Family members, siblings, parents and children, entire clans are trying to outdo each other in controlling elected positions and place political power in the hands of the few,” the group said.
Makabayan said dynasties control both local and national posts while ordinary citizens are prevented from being candidates and being elected.
“We are against political dynasty. This is against democracy. This results in corruption and only serves the narrow interests of those already in power and their families,” Makabayan added.
The group added that the rule of political dynasties prevent development in the Philippines as the voices of the majority are not being heard.
“This is too much. There should only be one candidate from each family. Entire families should not be allowed as candidates. Public service is not a family business,” it said.
The Makabayan candidates said they vow that if elected, they will not allow any member of their immediate families to run in national and local elected posts.
They said they would also file and support measures disallowing political dynasties in accordance with the principles of the Philippine Constitution.
Four-fifths of posts controlled by dynasties
Makabayan said electoral reforms should start with the candidates.
Various studies show that 80% of the Senate while 74% of representatives belong to political families.
The families of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte are political dynasties that have tightly-controlled bailiwicks in the north and south of the country respectively.
Political dynasties in the Senate with two sitting members are the Villars of Las Pinas, Estrada/Ejercitosof San Juan and the Cayetanos of Taguig.
In next year’s elections, the Tulfos of Quezon City want more members while the Binays of Makati want another member to replace an outgoing one.
In the party-list system, 91 percent or 52 seats are held by millionaires who are likely members of political families.
“Let us push for a movement of new politics and genuine change. It is time,” the progressives said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
