AS THE INTRA-ELITE struggle continues to dominate Philippine politics like a never-ending telenovela—same surnames, same feuds, different years—the country suddenly finds itself staring at an unexpected plot twist.
The current president, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, neck-deep in the preservation of his regime and in fending off political predators circling overhead, has pivoted to an earthshaking proposal: the passage of the long-awaited, long-desired Anti-Political Dynasty Law.
This is the surprise of surprises. The president who has luxuriated in the dominance of his own family dynasty—the same one that has held Luzon in a political chokehold since the 1960s, or more than 60 years—is now the one calling for this reform. It is like watching the architect of the flood control mafia suddenly denounce corruption, or the undersecretaries we wrote about—those white-collar bagmen of bureaucratic plunder—launch a crusade for clean government. You do not know whether to laugh, applaud, or check if hell has frozen over.
Pundits, sharper than ever, say this is merely his attempt to keep controlling the narrative, to set the agenda, to survive the many and emerging attempts to remove him from office. It is survival disguised as reform. Strategy disguised as moral awakening. But even then, we take what we can get. It is a welcome development.
‘While the political elites are squabbling, this—this moment—is the people’s opportunity to seize control of their political direction. Before the window closes again for another 60 years.’
THIS IS ONE OF THEM
When a regime begins to convulse from all sides—attacked from within, squeezed from without, exposed by the cracks of its own making—sometimes it produces gestures of desperation that the people can seize. And this is one of them.
This gamble from an elitist president must be taken on by any progress-loving Filipino. We should push for this and jump with the current inertia. Family political dynasties remain the root cause of corruption in Philippine politics, bureaucracy, and even business. They are not mere symptoms—they are the disease.
As I have written in previous columns, they are the mechanism for collusion: family members and allies strategically placed across government positions, negating checks and balances, smothering accountability, turning public office into a family enterprise.
BLIND LOYALTIES
Dynasties breed incompetence and reward blind loyalties.
Whatever laws we pass—even the most stringent—can easily be bypassed when two or more colluding members of the same clan use their power and clout to bend rules, break systems, and bulldoze institutions. In the bureaucracy, dynastic padrinos dictate appointments like feudal lords distributing land titles.
And the bureaucrats comply, not out of respect, but out of fear—fear of losing jobs, budgets, promotions, and careers.
In a nation where up to 80 percent of political positions are related to dynasties, priorities will always be distorted. Public funds will continue to be siphoned. And elections will remain auctions: votes bought, loyalty traded, conscience pawned. From the Ramos, Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino, Duterte and to the Marcos Jr. administration, we have seen how dynasties effortlessly transfer influence, redirect funds, and partake in corruption—most notoriously in the flood control projects we have repeatedly discussed. This is not the exception; this is the ecosystem.
PUSH CONGRESS, SENATE
Thus, the Anti-Political Dynasty Law must finally be passed, and the people must rally behind it.
Yes, this is the president’s gamble to remain in control, to keep his regime intact. But it is also a rare opening, a crack in the armor of elite continuity. We must take advantage of it.
All anti-corruption activists should stop bickering, stop arguing who among the current politicians is more corrupt—as if comparing shades of rot produces any enlightenment.
I have said it again and again: our elitist political establishment, dominated by dynastic clans, is to blame. Push Congress. Push the House. Push the Senate. Push until the provision that has gathered dust since the 1987 Constitution is finally, irrevocably, enacted.
While the political elites are squabbling, this—this moment—is the people’s opportunity to seize control of their political direction. Before the window closes again for another 60 years.
#thefilipinocriminologist