MANILA, Philippines – The outcry against the political dynasties found the spotlight on Friday, October 4, when most of the senatorial aspirants from progressive groups formalized their intentions to run for public office in 2025.
Numerous candidates from left-wing coalition Makabayan and the democratic socialist Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) spoke up against the dominance of well-entrenched political families in the Senate, on the day scions of the Villar and Binay families filed their candidacies.
“I am angry about seeing the worsening political dynastism. This should be stopped; we need to put an end to candidates from the same families running one after another or simultaneously,” said former Bayan Muna congressman Teddy Casiño, who is part of the 11-member Makabayan slate.
“These political dynasties, these traditional politicians, these elites, are not addressing the needs of the people. What they focus their time and attention on is solving their own problems — amassing power and wealth,” said labor leader Leody de Guzman, who is running under the banner of PLM alongside fellow activist Luke Espiritu.
It makes sense why opposition to political dynasties is at the center of the progressives’ messaging for the 2025 elections. They are at a huge disadvantage, lacking the political and financial machinery that has kept many families in power for decades.
Makabayan’s unique selling proposition is that most if not all of its senatorial aspirants are ordinary workers and community leaders. For instance, Jocelyn Andamo is a nurse, Ronnel Arambulo is a fisherman, Mody Floranda is a jeepney driver, and Danilo Ramos is a farmer.
“We are the ones experiencing poverty, we are the ones affected by floods during calamities. To the politicians or those in the Senate and Congress, our question is: do they really know what the people need?” asked Mimi Doringo, an urban poor leader.
Other aspirants from the Makabayan bloc include term-limited House lawmakers Arlene Brosas and France Castro, former congresswoman Liza Maza, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis, and Moro activist Amirah Lidasan.
The 11-person Makabayan senatorial slate made a show of force on Friday at the Manila Hotel Tent City, as their candidates and the allowed four companions each occupied nearly all of the seats on one side of the venue.
Casiño, who is giving Senate a second try after over a decade, is optimistic that the political climate would allow one of people from the Left to finally crack the Magic 12 of the race for the upper chamber.
“The time is right for a progressive national democrat to make it to the Senate. I think [the] Marcoses’ return to power is a big lesson to our citizens that political dynasties will keep on returning if we don’t put a complete end to them,” he said.
While Ramos, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas president, was lambasting Senate agriculture committee chairperson Cynthia Villar over her family business’ conversion of agricultural land for commercial use, other members of the Villar clan were on the other side of the COC filing venue, and were able to hear the criticisms, which House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar brushed aside.
“I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But I also know that my mother, Senator Cynthia Villar, is very passionate about the agriculture sector,” said Representative Camille, who filed her candidacy for senator.
Villar pitched herself to the public as a “millennial candidate” who will bring “new politics” and “fresh perspectives” to the Senate, even though she’s the fourth in the family to run for senator. If she wins, she will join her brother Senator Mark Villar in the upper chamber.
When asked about criticisms of making the Senate a family affair and benefiting from nepotism in government, she sidestepped the question.
“We were all elected officials — my father, my mother, and my brother. We wholeheartedly thank our countrymen for their continued support and trust of the Villar family. All we want is to help many people,” she said.
Aside from Villar, another politician running under the banner of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas who filed her candidacy on Friday is Makati Mayor Abby Binay.
The local chief executive is also a member of a political family, and if she wins, she would succeed her sister Senator Nancy in the upper chamber.
“I would like to focus on… improving and expanding social programs for our people, particularly in health and education,” she said. “[Also], stronger local governments that are resilient and sustainable.”
Unlike the Villars, the Binay family has been plagued with infighting that spilled into public view. Senator Nancy is set to run against Mayor Abby’s husband Representative Luis Campos for the top post of city hall in Makati.
Representative Villar and Mayor Binay are two of the 12 hopefuls from Marcos’ senatorial picks, which has been called a “dynastic slate” by critics.
The Comelec logged on Friday the highest single-day number of senatorial aspirants who filed their candidacies, with 19, bringing the four-day total to 58.
For the party-list race, the total number of groups that submitted their documents so far is 50, even though there are around 160 accredited party-list groups.
Among those who officially joined next year’s party-list election include reelectionist groups Gabriela, Ang Probinsyano, and 1-Rider, whose incumbent representative Bonifacio Bosita is making a surprise bid for the Senate.
Other party-list groups that have yet to win a seat such as BBM (Bangon Bagong Minero), Ilocano Defenders, and Ating Guro TDC also filed their papers on Friday. – Rappler.com
