By itself, political dynasties are already disruptive of democracy in the Philippines. Its concentration of power does not equate to stability, as the same problems persist in its local governments.
Take the National Capital Region (NCR), for example. Almost all cities in the region elect candidates from political families– the Gathcalians of Valenzuela, Malapitans of Caloocan, and Cayetanos of Taguig– yet, they’re still figuring out how to solve flooding in the NCR.
Yet political dynasties’ democratic disruption goes beyond their territories. Their influence on people goes so broad and deep that uniting two dynasties could wield enough power.
The alliance between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte united political families in the north and south of the Philippines, resulting in the biggest election win in recent history.
What was once a tandem that campaigned for “unity” resulted in one of the biggest fallouts in politics. Their split was so intense that Duterte ended up publicly issuing a death threat to Marcos, his wife, and his cousin, leading to her impeachment.
The extent to which a political family can influence public institutions was evident in Duterte’s impeachment trial. The trial court consisted of senator-judges tasked with examining evidence while maintaining neutrality despite their political affiliations. Yet Presiding Officer Francis Escudero had to remind the senator-judges to exercise “cold neutrality.”
Atty. Howard Calleja had questioned Senator Imee Marcos’ line of questioning, saying she was acting as a defense senator-judge. He also said that she, along with siblings Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano and Senator Robin Padilla, had asked the witness “out of this world” questions.
Had these senator-judges’ judgment and sworn duty been clouded by partisan loyalty rather than the truth? They were placed there to serve the public. Their allegiance belonged to the law and the people—not to a political family.
If Padilla could advocate for a biased prosecution, the public had every right to demand an impartial senator-judge. Impartiality was not merely an expectation; it was a duty.
Beyond corruption and centralized power, political dynasties erode the system by undermining due process itself. No political family should exert such influence that officials favor private interests over their constitutional duty. Public servants owe their allegiance solely to the people they swore to serve.
For if there is one thing that should have the most power, it is the law.
