12

Philippine Politics and

Governance
Quarter 2 – Module 3
Elections and Political Parties

1
INTRODUCTION (What I need to know)
Political parties and elections play an important role in the analysis of politics in
developing countries, particularly in the analysis of democratization, and specifically the
consolidation of democratic political regimes. Among political scientists, the existence of free and
fair elections on a regular basis is considered the minimal condition for a democracy (democratic
regime)

In the previous modules, you have already learned the framework of the government. This
time, you will learn how to become part of governance. Citizens are very powerful in a way
that they elect political candidates to certain positions in the government. During election, issues
and problems arise such as candidates’ qualification, electoral protest, vote buying and flying
voters. These issues and concerns are to be resolved primarily by Commission on Election
(COMELEC).

(MELC) Most Essential Learning Competency

Analyze the nature of elections and political parties in the Philippines.

After reading this module, you will be able to:

a) describe the nature of elections and political parties in the Philippines;

b) analyze the kinds of election and types of political parties;
c) illustrate a practice commonly observed during election period

DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITIES (What is it?)

Elections have played an integral role in the development of representative democracy in the
Philippines. It is divided into national and local elections. Moreover, it is a way of filling up
vacancies in the government notwithstanding the principle of succession. Under the Constitution,
elections for the members of Congress and local positions (except barangay officials) occur every
second Monday.

The Philippines has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party
normally has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form a
coalition government. And the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is responsible for running the
elections.

Elections and Political Parties

The Electoral System
 Periodic election of officials by single-ballot plurality vote
 Executive and senators elected at large
 Existence of legislative districts and local government units Electorate: duly registered
citizens 18 years of age and above

History of Elections in the Philippines

Pre-Colonial Philippines
 No elections for ruling authorities
 Government was based more on intangibles – Kinship – Customs/Traditions – Favors –
Unwritten laws

2
Colonial Government
 In colonizing the Philippines, Spain effectively formalized and modernized government rule
 To be able to administer the colony effectively, the colonial government created pockets of
local authority across the country

American Colonial Rule

 American colonial rule set the foundation for elections in the Philippines
 Government institutions and the electoral system were patterned after the American
system
 Filipinos could run for public office in a limited capacity
Commonwealth
 Introduced a more accommodating electoral system
 Over time, Philippine elections were dominated by a single-party
 Creation of the COMELEC to oversee the conduct of elections

1973 Constitution
 Consolidation of power under Martial Rule
 Less electoral safeguards – Weakening of the powers of the COMELEC – Lack of checks
and balances within the electoral system

American Colonial Rule – Initial dominance of the Federal Party

 Party advocating Philippine statehood within the United States – Rise and subsequent
preponderance of the Nacionalista Party
 Coalition of different groups advocating Philippine independence

Post-War Period – Split of the Liberal Party from the Nacionalista Party
 Encouraged by the Americans to avoid single-party hegemony
 Over time, the distinction between the two became blurred
 Growing importance of personalities

Martial Law – Clampdown on political institutions – Rise of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)
as the dominant political party – Eventual emergence of regional political parties

Post-EDSA (1986) – Development of a multi-party system

Lessons from the past

1. Effective checks and balances are needed over the electoral system
2. Elections are used to lend legitimacy to a regime
3. There are very few distinguishing characteristics between political parties in the
Philippines
4. Parties have generally been ineffective as political institutions that lend predictability to
politics in the Philippines
5. Personalities overpower parties as political entities

Contemporary issues
a. Party-list – a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives
to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or
organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC).
b. Absentee Voting - electoral process that enables persons who cannot appear at their
designated polling places to vote from another location
c. Election Fraud – a form of cheating during election
d. Political Dynasties – generally refer to traditional political families or the practices by
these political families of monopolizing political power and public offices from generation
to generation and treating the public elective office almost as their personal property.

3
 e. Nuisance Candidates – someone who files a certificate of candidacy (CoC) with the
intention of mocking the electoral process or putting it in disrepute; whose name is
similar to that of other registered candidates and whom the electorate can therefore
mistake for him or her; or who has no real intention to run for the office for which he or
she filed a CoC.

SUFFRAGE - the right to vote in elections.

Who may exercise (Sec. 1, Art. V)

1. all citizens of the Philippines, not otherwise disqualified by law;
2. at least 18 years of age
3. resided in the Philippines for at least one year; and
4. resided in the place they propose to vote for at least 6 months immediately preceding the
election.

RESIDENCE has dual meaning (Sec.1, Art. V):

1. As a requirement of residence in the Philippines: synonymous with “domicile”. Imports both
intention to reside and personal presence coupled with conduct indicative of such intention.
2. Requirement of residence in the place where one intends to vote: can mean domicile or
temporary residence

Requisites of Acquisition of Domicile by Choice:

1. residence or bodily presence in the new locality;
2. an intention to remain there; and
3. an intention to abandon the old residence. (Gallego v. Verra, 73 Phil. 453)

Direct disqualification
1. not citizen of the Republic of the Philippines
2. below 18 years old
3. failure to qualify with the residency requirement set by law
4. not registered voter in the place he proposes to vote

Other disqualification/disabilities
1. Citizens who have been sentenced by the court for at least 1 year and have not been granted
a pardon by the President.
2. Those who have been adjudged of final judgment by competent tribunal of having committed
any crime involving disloyalty to the government.
3. Those who are declared insane or incompetent persons as declard by competent authority.

Kinds of election
1. General election. Elections are held simultaneously on the same day for all national and
local offices.
2. National election. Elections for national officials like President, Vice President, and members
of Congress.
3. Local election. Elections for the offices in the provinces, cities, and municipalities.

Types of Suffrage
1. Plebiscite. This refers to the process by which a certain question, like the proposed
amendment to, or revision of the Constitution is put to a popular vote for approval or
election.
2. Elections. It is the means through which the electorate chooses the leaders in whom they
entrust the functions and powers of the government for a fixed period of time.
3. Initiative. It is a process by which the electorate directly proposes by the people through
initiative upon a petition of at least 12 per cent of the total numbers of registered voters.
4. Referendum. It refers to when a question or law or part of it is submitted to the electoral
body for its approval or rejection.

4
5. Recall. It is a process of removing an incumbent officer from active duty or before the
expiration of his term of office by a vote of the people.

Political parties – group of people organized for the purpose of winning government power, by
electoral or other means
 interest holders united by a definite set of party programs and attempt to advance a
consistent line of policy
 main goal is to gain control of the levers of government so that they can realize their
policies or programs

Political parties are important not only because of their functions that were mentioned.
More importantly, the complex relationship between parties helps in the structuring of the
political system. This network of relationship is commonly referred to as party system. There are
several ways of distinguishing the type of party system that exists in a certain country. One is
based on the number of parties competing for political power. Another is depending on the size of
parties relative to their electoral and legislative strength. The last one has something to do with
how parties relate to each other, that is, whether there is cooperation, consensus, or conflict
among them (Heywood 2013).

The major types of party systems include the following:

1. One-party system – Only one party dominates and there is no political competition between
parties. Single-party systems are characterized by the oppression of democratic freedom.
2. Two-party system – Two parties primarily dominate the political landscape and smaller parties
only play a subordinate role.
3. Dominant party systems – Other parties are present but only one party dominates and enjoys
prolonged periods in power.
4. Multiparty system – More than two parties compete for power over time. It reduces the
likelihood of a single-party government and increases chances of coalition formation

Types of Political Parties

1. Based on membership
 Mass
 Cadre
 devotee
2. Based on arena of activities
 Constitutional
 revolutionary
3. Based on ideological orientation
 Left parties (Far-left) - goal is the eventual destruction of existing class hierarchies
in society, by violence if necessary; call for comprehensive government intervention
in the economy to redistribute wealth & guarantee welfare security to the most
vulnerable
 Center-Left parties - differ from left by their disavowal of violence and coercion;
believe that equitable distribution of wealth is still a societal goal that should be
realized by proper state intervention (with concurrence from the people).
 Center parties - believe in the value of self- initiative & a minimal state role on
economy
 Center-Right parties - believe that the task of the government is to provide peace
and order and to ensure the proper enforcement of laws and legal contracts
 Right parties (Far-Right) - parties of ultra conservatism& exclusionism; believe in
„natural‟ differences among humans and that there are some persons, races,
religions, classes that are more fit to rule than others.

Electoral Politics

5
  vital connections between state authority and society, linking the structure of government
to other social groupings • political action – seeking power to achieve policy objectives

Elections
 a device for filling an office through choices made by a designated body of people -the
electorate.
 for the ordinary citizen - elections are seen as the clearest instance of politics entering
their lives.

Functions:
1. “Bottom-Up” functions (People Government View)
 provide the citizenry with a meaningful way of participating in government mechanism
for leadership selection
 An instrument for evaluating and changing governments
 forum for interest articulation and political socialization
2. “Top-Down” functions (Government- People View)
 instrument of rule legitimization
 guide to political strategy
 agent of political socialization and integration

The Voting System in the Philippines:

Party-List System – Art. VI Sec. 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
 party-list representatives will be elected to constitute 20 per centum of the total number
of the seats in the House of the Representative
 provides opportunity for under-represented sectors and parties in Philippine society to
have a legitimate chance of winning representation in Congress

Anomalies in Philippine Elections:

1) lack of human manpower in the COMELEC
2) influence of “gold, guns and goons”
3) flying voters - It means double/multiple registration
4) vote buying – It is usually viewed as a purely economic exchange in which the voter sells his
or her vote to the highest bidder.
5) tampering with the election returns
6) dagdag-bawas‟
Prevention of electoral frauds:
1) vigilance of the citizens
2) relevant government bodies
3) reforms such as computerization and continuous registration
4) political education
5) poll observers (local and international) during elections
Characteristics of a Political Party:
1. Has an organized structure with lines of authority and power distribution.
2. Seek to attract popular support in the form of votes.
3. Seeks political power directly thru electoral method
4. Prepared to support a candidate and fight for victory in an election. (to gain power)

Party Membership means formal attachment to a political party, usually involving the
assumption of obligations to the party and receiving privileges from the party.
1. For patronage
2. To get special treatment from the government
3. To enhance their own career
4. Economic benefit
5. Personal gratification
6. To have and to use an influence on the others

6
7. Ideological fulfillment

Party Membership Rules:

 Usually require a person to apply formally for membership, and party officials can accept
or reject the application (though in fact they are usually accepted).
 The person must at least pay annual dues and sometimes take an oath to support the
party’s principles and candidates.

Functions of Political Parties

1. Leadership Recruitment- The political party is still likely to be a structure that identifies
potential leaders, brings them to public attention, and secures them the support necessary for
taking public office.
2. Coordinate policy across different branches of Gov’t
3. Mobilize voters – get out the vote drives -President, Congress, local party cooperation to win
elections. -Leaders stress party loyalty to proposed policies.
4. Provide accountability- unintended side effect Used by voters to hold elected official
accountable
5. nominate candidates - by most common method today.
6. contest election- “wage war” in the general election 7. form governments- organized along
party lines government appointments in executive

Principal activities of Parties

1. Selecting candidates - parties virtually monopolize nominations, which give them tremendous
power to shape governments and policies.
2. Election campaigning - those professionals, hired by the candidates for substantial fees,
organize high-tech campaigns that feature such up-to-date (and costly) techniques and raising
money by computerized direct mail advertising.
3. Nominate candidates - recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office.
4. Inform and Activate Supporters - campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates.
5. Act as a bonding agent - guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office.
6. Govern - members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a
party.
7. Act as a watchdog - parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party
in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election.

Some Philippine Political Parties

1. NACIONALISTA PARTY
2. LIBERAL PARTY PARTIDO LIBERAL NG PILIPINAS
3. PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO Force of the Filipino Masses
4. PARTIDO DEMOKRATIKO PILIPINO Lakas ng Bayan

Activity 1. Is it correct?

7
Directions. Write True if the underlined word makes the statement correct and write False if it
does not. Write your answer on your answer sheet.
__________1. Appointments are process by which voters select officials.
__________2. Elections are political exercises.
__________3. Regular election for president, vice president, senators, members of the House of
Representatives and local officials are held on the second Monday of May.
__________4. The Commission on Election is a constitutional commission.
__________5. The age of qualification of a voter is at least 21 years old.

Activity 2: Think Beyond!

Directions: If you are going to cast your vote during election, which electoral system would you
prefer? Put a check on your choice in column 2 and explain it in column 3. Write your answer on
your answer sheet.

Types of Vote  Explanation

1. Open Ballot –
Under this system,
the voters raise their
hands to support a
candidate.

2. Secret Ballot – In
this system the voter
casts his vote for a
candidate without
the knowledge of
another person.

Activity 3: Comic Strip in Politics

8
Directions: Draw and illustrate a comic strip based on political activities during election
campaign period in the Philippines with the following criteria:

Relevance to the topic/ Content 50%, Creativity and Humor 40%, Overall Impact 10%

Use a different sheet of bond paper for this activity.

1 2

3 4

ASSESSMENT

I. Directions. Choose the correct word from the box that defines the statements in each
number. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

9
 Initiative Suffrage Plebiscite

Referendum Political Party Election

1. __________ means by which people choose their officials.

2. __________ is an organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that
its position and philosophy become public policy.
3. __________ is the submission of a law passed by the legislative body to the people for their
ratification or rejection.
4. __________ is the vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law
submitted to them.
5. __________is a method in which people directly propose and enact laws.

II. Directions. Pretend that you are a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman candidate,
create a poster that represents yourself as a candidate . Use a separate bond paper.
a. A catchy phrase
b. Your name

III. Directions. Read and analyze each statement below and match column A with column
B. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

A B
_____1. A form of cheating during election. A. Party-list
_____2. It means double/multiple registration B. Flying voter
_____3. Group of people organized for the purpose C. Election fraud
of winning government power, by electoral or other D. Political party
means. E. Election

10
 _____4. A mechanism of proportional representation
in the election of representatives to the House of
Representatives from national, regional and
sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions
thereof registered with the Commission on
Elections.
_____5. A device for filling an office through choices
made by a designated body of people.

ANSWER KEY OF ACTIVITIES

REFERENCES
Pawilen, R.A. and Pawilen, R.M. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Rex Bookstore Inc.

Tabajen, R. and Pulma, E. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance.JFS Publishing Services

Mendoza, Diana J. et al. (2016). Politics Without Borders. Phoenix Publishing House Inc.

Lazo, R.S. (2009). Philippine Government and the 1987 Consitution. Rex Bookstore Inc.

Villanueva, Prince Aian G. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Diwa Learning Systems
Inc.

Department of Education – Philippines (2016) K to 12 Senior High School Curriculum Guide.

Philippine Politics and Governance.
11
Department of Education – Philippines (2020) Most Essential Learning Competencies. Philippine
Politics and Governance.

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+of+candidates+in+election

DIVISION QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM IN HUMSS

ANSWER
WRITERS: DIANA VIE F. FALGUI KEY OF
SANDRA MAE D. CALPITO
VALIDATORS:
DR. MARILEX A. TERCIAS DR. EUGENE M. TORALBA
DR. ALBERTO O. RABANG DR. VIRGINIA B. FREGILLANA
JEANNEROSE M. ACOSTA ZOSIMA IRENE H. FERNANDEZ
MA. JOCELYN J. SOTONG DANILO T. SIBLAG
VICTOR B. ABAN JAMELIE M. CRISPINO

CONSULTANTS:
DR. DANILO C. SISON DR. TEODORA V. NABOR
DR. CORNELIO R. AQUINO DR. JEROME S. PARAS
DR. MAYBELENE C. BAUTISTA

ASSESSMENT
I.
1. Election
2. Political Party
3. Referendum
4. Plebiscite
5. Initiative

II. Answers vary

III.
1. C
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. E

12