Negative Effects of Political Dynasties in the Philippines

Many argue that one factor why the Philippines is underdeveloped in the dominance and perpetuation of political dynasties. The 1987 Philippine constitution, Article 2, Section 26 declares that, “The State shall guarantee equal access to public service and prohibit political dynasty as may be defined by law (Dannug and Campanilla 497).” A few politicians have tried to pass laws that would put an end to spread and persistence of political dynasties in the country. In 2004, Senate Bill 1317, an anti-dynasty bill has been filed by then Senator Alfredo Lim and by Senator Panfilo Lacson in 2007. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is the most recent to file the anti-political dynasties act in 2011, which defines political dynasty as a situation when the spouse or a relative within the second degree of consanguinity holds a political office during the same term, runs for the same position immediately after the term of office of an incumbent official, or runs simultaneously for elective public office even if neither is related to an incumbent elected official.

In the Philippines, it is apparent that there is a succession of rulers from the same prominent families and lines. Even with the introduction of the political party list system, in the 11th congress for a more proportional representation in the House of Representatives, resulted in the continuing clan dominance, landing families to accumulate economic wealth and political power through the years (PoP 1; Tehankee).

Jennifer Conroy Franco believes that the colonial rule of the Spaniards and Americans in the Philippines have laid the foundations of socioeconomics and politics for the country (61). Filipino communities were accustomed to an early form of government even during the p...

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