FAMILIAR SURNAMES often find themselves on ballots in the upcoming elections; that is an unwavering guarantee. As members of the same clan run for office, political dynasties continue to embed themselves into the Philippine electoral system.

However, the seemingly perennial presence of dynastic families has both its costs and benefits. While studies reveal strong links between dynasties and poor political and socioeconomic outcomes, dynastic patterns have etched themselves in the system—compelling Filipinos to vote based on patronymic.

The looming elections make it vital to scrutinize dynastic continuity, its implications on the country’s political landscape, and the different ways to approach it given the ongoing battle between the welfare of the clan and the welfare of the state.

Runs in the blood

To circumvent term limits, dynasts have long secured their position in the history of politics by fielding more members of their clan into power. Research conducted by the Ateneo Policy Center shows that dynasties occur when members of the same family occupy elected government positions, either in succession or all at once. The simultaneous holding of elective posts—also known as a “fat” dynasty—allows dynastic politicians to dominate politics at both the national and local levels.

Dynasties in the country have become increasingly fatter, signaling a stronger concentration of power in the political arena, said Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza, PhD. “Based on our research in the Ateneo Policy Center, over 80 percent of our governors and almost 70 percent of representatives in Congress belong to fat dynasties,” he noted.

Further research by Mendoza based on the present trend predicts that approximately 70% of local officials would be dynastic by 2040, foretelling the persistence of dynastic ascendancy.

Boon and bane

Clearly, there exists a sense of dynastic continuity in Philippine politics as the concurrence of elective power within the family expands. This, however, remains a contentious issue as some favor its retention while others actively seek its abolition.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself expressed his inclination towards dynasties, saying these were “not bad” due to familiarity precedence. Mendoza attributes this to the incumbent advantage of fat dynasties that place dynasts in control of many public services, pressuring reliant voters to vote for names that ring a bell.

On the contrary, empirical studies reveal a causality between dynastic patterns and blemished socioeconomic outcomes. Mendoza discloses that dynasties are “typically associated with more underdevelopment and poverty” particularly in areas far from the Luzon and regions with frail democratic institutions.

Ramifications of dynastic continuity on underdevelopment are largely precipitated by the concentration of power among the minority, poor check and balance mechanisms, and weaker accountability and governance measures. Mendoza furthermore mentioned that dynasties make it challenging for more promising leaders to compete in the leadership development and selection process.

These findings implore for a more institutionalized solution to the intractable growth of dynastic families. Dynastic regulation may just be the silver bullet to the dynasty-induced poverty incidence and bad governance that make a hash of the country’s political landscape at large.

Above the law?

Despite the crucial need for implementation, anti-dynasty reforms hardly occupy space and attention in the realm of law. According to Ateneo Political Science Assistant Professor Maria Lao, DPA, the chief factor in the proliferation of political dynasties is the Congress’ failure to pass the regulatory measures demanded by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Beyond pertinent Constitutional provisions, particularly those embedded in Article II, Section 26, as well as Article VII, Section 13, none of the proposed bills to prohibit political dynasties have been legitimized. “The people who swear to write the [anti-dynasty] laws in the service of the Filipino people cannot because there’s that interest that they carry, which is their own,” Lao remarked.

The pattern has endured through the years, owing its survival to politicians’ disapproval of anti-dynasty amendments and condonation of dynastic prevalence.

Lao stressed that the current reign of dynastic clans is not an isolated issue, but a symptom of the diseases that plague the nation’s political system. “Dynasties are just one feature. It is an overwhelming characteristic but there are all these other practices [the lack of safeguards to ensure accountability, transparency, and fair competition] that weaken the democratic structure,” she explained.

With no anti-dynasty law, political clans have succeeded in exploiting loopholes within Constitutional constraints. Even with imposed term limits, incumbent politicians affiliated with dynasties sustain their influence by transferring the position to relatives or bringing more family members into office.

Defeating dynasties

Turning a blind eye to the sprawling familial networks that govern politics blocks any chance of systemic change and also exacerbates abusive and incompetent leadership. Mendoza touched on the alarming implications of a political landscape rife with dynasties. “The most likely effect is a continued erosion of trust in government and a weakening of the merit-based selection of leaders in the public sector,” he said. 

Mendoza and Lao advocated for the enforcement of inclusive political policies and stricter anti-dynasty regulations that would collectively open the doors for alternative leaders and encourage both competition and professionalism in the public sector.

Dynasties are difficult to overturn as these have woven themselves so seamlessly into the political culture that they have become indistinguishable from the Filipino perspective of family. In light of the upcoming elections, however, Lao noted the opportunity that a new generation of voters—who may perceive governance differently—will bring.

As these dynasties continue to thrive, it is imperative that the millions of Filipinos casting their ballots in May critically assess the candidates running for office—not on the basis of surnames, but on the ability to lead. Ultimately, only a combination of structural reform and a reconstructed ideal of public service can usurp the persistence of political dynasties and its destructive legacy.