KASPIL2 V25 

POLITICAL
DYNASTIES
I N THE PHI LI PPI NES

CRUZ.CUEVAS.HORDEJAN.SING
WHAT IS A POLITICAL 
DYNASTY?

traditional political families or the Senate Bill No. 1765

practices by these political "concentration, consolidation,
families of monopolizing political and/or perpetuation of public
power and public offices from office and political powers by
generation to generation and persons related to one another
treating the public elective office within the second degree of
almost as their personal property. consanguinity or affinity."
-Teresa Tadem and Eduardo
Tadem (2016) Political dynasties are defined to
be the existence of a certain
Political dynasty commonly refers family of whom most, if not all are
to a family in which several participating and are taking active
members by blood or marriage official positions within the
often in several generations or government be it local or
multiple siblings are involved in national.. Similar to the Tadem’s
electoral politics. definition, Guarde et. al. also
-Guarde et. al. (2016) emphasizes that the relationship
between members of political
dynasties are not limited to
biological bases rather it extends
to marriage or union of further
political individuals.
Emergence of
Political
Dynasties

PRE-COLONIAL ERA
This was the time when the natives
lived in their own communities which
were called Barangays.  These
Barangays were composed of various
families which is why the
communities before were heavily
centered on blood relations.  During
this era, social class was a solidified
system for the filipinos; the top of the
social class included the maharlikas
which were considered the elite.
 Among the ruling class of the system
were the Datus or Raja.  These were
the individuals who were considered
the leaders of their respective
barangays.  
The concept of Political Dynasty in
this era can be seen through their
system of passing down the
position of Datu.  As it was stated
in various accounts,  The title of
Datu was passed down through
hereditary means or Inheritance.
 This further means that the family
where the Datu belongs to would
continue to cling to power thus
emancipating the idea of a
dynasty.  
Emergence
of Political
Dynasties

SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD

The Spanish Period saw the
development of the “Principalia”
which was nothing more than
another term for the elite ruling class
used in that era.   It was during this
era when the encomienda system
placed the previous datus and
maharlikas as individuals entrusted
with fiscal and administrative duties
on the land they were appointed to
by the spanish. From mere
administrating of land for the
barangay, these “lackeys” of spain
eventually became formal owners of
lands that were awarded to them for
their service and loyalty to the crown
of Spain. 
 The highlight of the Political
Dynasties within this period can be
seen from how the previous Datus
or ruling class were exploited by
the Spaniards to facilitate a
passive take-over of the various
barangays in exchange of rights to
further power and authority.
 Thus, these Datus simply changed
their titles to that of the
Principalia but they nevertheless
retained the powers they held
from before.
Emergence
of Political
Dynasties

AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD

The american colonization period saw
little to no difference in the shift of
power within the filipino society.
When the americans established
victory over Spain, the previous
principalias easily collaborated with
the leaders of the United States.  This
was done for them to preserve or
expand their hold in power and
influence as they felt that a new
colonizing nation might overthrow
their stand in society. It was also in
this era when democracy began
phasing in, thus the introduction of
national politics through which the
filipino elites would vouch for power
through the concept of the elections.
It was at this peak moment of the
democratic rule where political
networks flourished and the
filipino elites were able to stabilize
their positions within the political
aspect of the nation.  With this,
one could say that Political
Dynasties truly achieved
dominance as soon as the start of
the democratic process opened
new avenues for the elite to
further raise themselves with the
assistance of the colonizers.
Emergence
of Political
Dynasties

PRESENT PERIOD
The present period has done nothing
more than to further magnify the
power that these political dynasties
have.  Of course with the withdrawal
of the United States away from the
Philippines, the individuals who were
left to take up the position of leaders
were nonetheless the elite class.
 Those who were part of the elite who
initially composed of the oligarchy
during the colonization of the
americans in the country.  These
political families were the ones to
take up the government and further
spread their influences all throughout
the nation and not just the states.
 They replaced the americans
easily because they were the ones
left with the knowledge, influence
and money to actually manipulate
and control the government
through the democratic process.
 The present period is marked with
the overall perpetuation of the
political dynasties we have as of
today.  This marked the loss of the
fundamental belief of a leader
serving the community and
instigated the idea to cling to
power.
NOTABLE FAMILIES WITH MANY
GENERATIONS OF 

POLITICAL
INVOLVEMENT
IN THE GOVERNMENT
 His wife Imelda Romualdez-Marcos was the

MARCOS first governor of Metro Manila from 1975-

1986. She ran as a congresswoman of the
Leyte and won, she was a congresswoman

FAMILY
from 1995-1998. She was the
Congresswoman of the second district of
Ilocos Norte from 2010 until present. She
The start of the Marcos’ political journey attempted to run as the president on 1992
started with Fabian Marcos who was the and 1998 in which she lost in both. Their
Gobernadorcillo of Batac, Ilocos Norte, he children Bongbong and Imee, Bongbong
was also the justice of peace in that same was the vice-governor of Ilocos Norte (1980-
place. His son, Mariano Marcos was the 1983), the governor of Ilocos Norte (1983-
congressman of the second district of Ilocos 1986) and (1998-2007), the congressman of
Norte from 1925-1931. His son Ferdinand the second district of Ilocos Norte (1992-
Marcos served as a congressman of the 1995) and (2007-2010), and a senator (2010-
second district of Ilocos Norte from 1949- 2016). He ran for the position of vice-
1959, a senator from 1959-1965, and was a president on 2016, but he lost. Imee Marcos
senate president from 1963-1965. He ran as on the other hand was the congresswoman
the president of the Philippines on 1965. of the second district of Ilocos Norte from
After his first term ended on 1969 he ran 1995-2007, and the governor of Ilocos Norte
again for his second term and still won. His from 2010 to present.
second term lasted from 1969-1972 when
he declared martial law. Overall, his As what we can see here, the Marcoses
presidency lasted from 1965-1986, a clearly control Ilocos Norte because if they
whopping 21 years. run in Ilocos Norte, they are surely to win.
COJUANGCO-
AQUINO
FAMILY
There are a lot of people who are connected Cory Aquino is the sister of Danding
to the Cojuangcos, it started with the Cojuangco. She was the president of the
patriarchy, Jose Conjuangco who was the Philippines from 1986-1992. She is the wife
congressman of Tarlac from 1934-1946. The of Ninoy Aquino,  mayor of Concepcion,
next generation, Peping and Danding Tarlac from 1955-1959, vice governor from
Cojuanco, and Cory Aquino were all 1959-1961, governor from 1961-1967,
politicians. Peping was the municipal mayor senator from 1967-1972. The son of Cory
of paniqui, tarlac from 1959-1961, the and Ninoy Aquino, Noynoy was the
congressman of The first district of Tarlac congressman of the second district of Tarlac
from 1961-1969, and 1987-1998. Danding from 1998-2007, a senator from 2007-2010,
was the governor of Tarlac from 1967-1969, and the president of the country from 2010-
and the congressman of the first district of 2016.
Tarlac from 1969-1972. He attempted to run
for presidency on the 1992 election, but lost From what was stated above, we can see
to Fidel Ramos. that the Cojuancos are really influential in
Tarlac.
ESTRADA/EJERCITO
FAMILY
For the Estrada/Ejercito family, it started JV was the mayor of San Juan from 2001-
with the patriarchal, Joseph Estrada served 2010, Congressman from 2010-2013, a
as the mayor of San Juan from 1969-1986, a senator from 2013 up to the present. JV’s
senator from 1987-1992, a vice president mother Guia Gomez is also in to politics, she
from 1992-1998, and  the president of the was the mayor of San Juan from 2010 up to
Philippines from 1998 until 2001, when he the present. Jinggoy’s daughter, Janella
was impeached because of plunder. After Estrada ran as the vice-mayor of San Juan
his release on 2007, he once again ran for from 2016 up to the present.
presidency on 2010 in which he lost to
Noynoy Aquino. On 2013, he ran as the As what we can see, the Estrada/Ejercitos
Mayor of Manila in which he won. Once are very influential in the Philippines,
again, he ran and won on the 2016 especially San Juan City, because their
mayoralty elections. His sons Jinggoy families have been occupying the mayoryal
Estrada (legitimate), and JV Ejercito seat from 1969-1986, 1992-2019. 
(illegitimate), are also politicians from San
Juan. Jinggoy was the vice mayor of San Juan
from 1988-1992, the mayor from 1992-2001,
senator from 2004-2016. 
 STRENGTHS &
WEAKNESSES
OF HAVING A POLITICAL DYNASTY

ORGANIZED EXERCISE OF ABUSE OF POWER CONTROL OVER NUMEROUS

POWER ASPECTS IN PHILIPPINE
SOCIETY
 ABUSE OF POWER
IN AND OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT

There have been numerous evidences that Also, the family of Estradas/Ejercitos have linkages
there are certain political dynasties that have to these kinds of cases. The Singson family also
committed abuse of power. They use their had connections in committing graft and
political power and their position in the corruption. Allegedly,  Luis “Chavit” Singson,
government to increase their self benefits and governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, said that he
gain more power in their family. Throughout had personally given Estrada the sum of 400
Philippine history, there are negative million pesos as payoff from illegal gambling
connotations in political dynasties. profits such as “jueteng”, as well as 180 million
pesos from the government price subsidy for the
 The evidences of these negative implications tobacco farmers’ marketing cooperative. Singson’s
in Philippine society are the case of graft and allegation caused an uproar across the nation,
corruption of the people in the same political which culminated in Estrada’s impeachment trial
families. Just like the Marcos family, for many by the House of Representatives in November 13,
years there have been evidences that the 2000. These are the evidences that the political
family have embezzled over between $5 billion families are abusing their power in order to gain
to $10 billion from the Philippines. more power and income through graft and
corruption.

Courtesy: Rappler
Throughout the years, political
dynasties are becoming more powerful
because of their expansion in the
Philippine society ever since the pre-
colonial period until the present time.
Ever since the pre-colonial period, since
the title of Datu is passed down
through hereditary it means that the
leader of a tribe is still the same for
many generations. There is control over
the laws of the tribes and the traditions
of a tribe remain the same because of
the same family that is only passed
down to other generations. Also, during
the Spanish colonization period, the
“lackeys” that are given lands as a
reward are also given power like fiscal
and administrative duties  of the land
which gave them the power to also
pass down their land in the next
generation. Because of political
dynasties, instead of having equitable
and fair political structure, there is an
increase of boundaries in the
Philippine government which only
strengthened the barriers of entering
into politics. It hindered ordinary
citizens to be involved in the political
structure of the Philippines because of
the many political dynasties that are
taking control over the government.

CONTROL
OVER
NUMEROUS
ASPECTS IN
PHILIPPINE
SOCIETY
 ORGANIZED
EXERCISE
OF POWER
Since political dynasties have a cycle of
having people on the same family in the
Philippine government, there is
organization of political structure. It
would mean that there is a proper system
that is undergone where it is both
regulated and directed towards achieving
a goal in the Philippine government.

There is somehow a continuity and stability

in the politics and these are evident in the
families in the provinces like Josons of
Nueva Ecija, Ortegas of La Union and Dys of
Isabela. Because of political stability in the
society, investors can be assured that their
projects can still withhold over the years
since the laws would be minimally changed
because of the same political dynasty in the
succeeding generations. 
GENERAL CAUSES
OF THE ISSUE OF POLITICAL DYNASTIES

Elite economic status and connections

Succession of political positions to people from the same family
Lack of reforms to prohibit political dynasty 
 The prominent and moneyed families in
power taking over the country are the
same families who belong to the
economic elite since the offshoot of the
colonial experience from the Spanish
and American era.  In a study conducted
by GMA News Research (2007), there are
at least 219 identified political families
dominating the country’s political
landscape, most of which thriving in
provinces such as Tarlac, Batangas,
Negros Occidental, Manila, Cavite, and
Cebu.  Families such as the Aquinos,
Laurels, Lacsons, Duranos, Aguinaldos,
and Abayas, to name a few, have entered
politics since the birth of the nation.  The
power these political families have dates
back to the last years of the Spanish
colonization period and the American
period “to coopt the illustrados who
would collaborate with the colonials”
(Tuazon, n.d.).  However, the political
elites who were well-educated landlords
took over when the Americans came and
used this power for the pursuit of their
own interests.

In the recent years, the pervasive growth

of such dynasties has conspired an idea
of political entitlement as they take on to
public positions in the government.  As a
result, their economic power and wealth
prevents the expansion of participants
who wish to serve and govern in the
country.  With the use of their money
and support from their huge clan, their
loyalists, especially from their provinces,
greatly contribute to their success
during elections.

n addition, the wealth and power these

ELITE families have can influence the public to

turn a blind eye on the long-term
performances of these candidates.

ECONOMIC  These politicians in power would

finance government projects such as
schools, infrastructures, and other
STATUS AND government services during election
season, and make sure voters would

CONNECTIONS know the person behind the act (Conde,

2007).  Once elected, further
improvement and additional projects are
hardly ever implemented. 
In the book “An Anarchy of Families:
State and Family in the Philippines” by
Brian Fegan, it is common for  Filipinos
to vote according to family, rather than
ethnicity, religion, or race.  It has become
“the most enduring political unit and the
one into which, failing some wider
principle of participation, all other units
dissolve.”  The passing on of positions
within the administration among family
members has created a stigma of
permanent presence for these families
to control the same positions in the
government for generations.  Thus,
developing a pattern of family members
in the government.  Once these
candidates run and are elected, voters
primarily rely on the strength of these
candidates’ family names and often opt
to vote for someone they are used to
hearing.  As a result, the same person
reclaims the office after sitting out a few
a terms.

Similar to families who own businesses

or corporations, they strive to control
and protect their interests and wealth
within the family.  Political families
exercise the same stigma in the public
service sector, making our political
system a domination of fraud,
corruption, and negligence.  Instead of
having improved the lives of his
constituents, most of these so-called
public servants choose greed over
service to maintain their power,
authority, and influence over people.
 This “family industry” is a vicious clan
dominance cycle that prevents the
development, discovery, and expansion
of aspirants and candidates who want to
represent and serve the country,
SUCCESSION
defeating the purpose of having a
democratic electoral and party system
OF POLITICAL
(Teehankee, n.d.).
POSITIONS TO
PEOPLE FROM
THE SAME
FAMILY
 The Constitution bans political dynasties.
 In fact, there have been bills proposed
aimed to weaken and dismantle the
issue.  The provision under Article 2,
Section 26 states: “The State shall
guarantee equal access to public service
and prohibit political dynasty as may be
defined by law.”  However, there is no
implementing law by the Congress
whose members are dominated by
political families themselves (Rozario et
al., 2010).

Durano (2007) says there is no

prohibition on political families in the
most developed democracies.  According
to him, the provision under Article 2,
Section 26 was made as a response to
the martial law.  He believes that it is the
reforming of electoral system that
should be of focus in order to effectively
promote honest, clear, and fair elections,
and to discourage the concentration and
participation of political power among
families affiliated in political dynasties. 

LACK OF
REFORMS TO
PROHIBIT
POLITICAL
DYNASTY
 POLITICAL DYNASTIES IN THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

POLITICAL DYNASTIES
AFFECTED OTHER
ISSUES OF THE
PHILIPPINES
It is a common notion that the presence of political These examples show that the lower class of the
dynasties in modern Philippine society always lead  society were not given any benefits by the
to corruption. There are always cases of corruption in government because almost all of the power are
the government that are done by the people from only distributed to the ruling class or high class of
the same family. Since power is a very relevant factor the Philippines.
in having a substantial position in the government,
government officials abuse their power to corrupt There is a bias in Philippine society because of the
and gain more political strength. There is also a numerous political dynasties controlling over the
presence of biases in society because of the people government. Even though democracy was
who came from powerful families. introduced to us  during the American period, the
powerful families still used their power to take
 Political dynasties gain protection because of the control in the government and hinder others in the
many people who are related to each other in the inclusion in politics so that there would be less
government which made them biased. Families competition. Political dynasties generally led to
support the laws that they know would contribute contributing in other issues of the Philippines
greatly in their family name because it would give because of the greed and hunger of power by these
them more control over the offices. Just like in the political families. Because of these other issues that
Spanish period, officials would choose the “lackeys” is generated by the political dynasties, it affected the
to be given the ownership of the land like the Datus citizens of the Philippines and led to a great deal of
and maharlikas to have duties.  Even though there is poverty in the country. 
a passive take-over of the Spanish on the
Philippines, the leaders of the tribe still hold their
respective power and just changed their title to that
of the Principalia. Also, in exchange of rights, the
leaders of the tribe were able to expand their power
and authority in order for the Spanish to take over
the different barangays.  
CONCLUSION POLITICAL DYNASTIES

As of the moment,  political dynasties are here to stay in the Philippines.

With the way it has progressed throughout history, any move or plans of
action to completely remove the system would become futile.  Moreover,
considering that the elite class and the families that belong to it would
continue to further expand their influence within the filipino people, this
would imply that political dynasties would also continue to grow.  It would
be a far fetched idea to remove every existing political dynasty and such a
move would create a catastrophic surge within the present society.  It
should also be noted that not all political dynasties reflect on the negative
aspects since there were leaders born from these dynasties who proved
themselves to be worthy of the title of a leader.

"GIVEN SUCH A SITUATION, ONE CAN

ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE CHALLENGE
TO END POLITICAL DYNASTIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES REMAINS BLEAK AT THE
MOMENT."
-TERESA TADEM AND EDUARDO TADEM
(2016)

With that being said, it all boils down to the people since they actually have
the power to retain or remove political dynasties.  The democratic process
gives the mass the ability and authority to choose its own leaders and as
such, it should be emphasized that they use these advantages in the right
manner.  No matter how powerful a dynasty is in the modern world, the
people should be reminded of their own power to dismantle or strengthen
such a dynasty.  Reiterating what was said before, everything still depends
on the people.