Some of the biggest names in Philippine politics come from the Ilocos Region, including the Marcos political clan of Ilocos Norte.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now the country’s 17th president. He was elected in May 2022 in one of the biggest political comebacks in history. It came nearly four decades after a bloodless people’s revolt ousted his father, strongman Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1986).
In Ilocos Sur, the Singson clan led by former Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson stands out for its size.
At least 23 of them are running for multiple positions in the province, based on research by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
It may yet be the biggest number of candidates from a single clan running for public office in the May 12 elections.
They are the “super obese dynasty” of the country, according to Danilo Arao, convenor of the election watchdog Kontra Daya.
The Marcos and the Singson clans are also considered “mega dynasties,” those comprising several dynasties banding together to control not only provinces but the entire country, according to Arao.
They have counterparts in other parts of the country: Romualdezes, Villars and the Arroyos.
In Ilocos as well as in other regions, dynasties either compete or ally with each other.
What they enjoy in common are “political interests that would determine how they will go about consolidating power, wealth and influence,’’ Arao said.
These political interests affect family relations as relatives run against each other or ally with “perceived enemies,’’ he said.
“In a sense, one can say that dynasties can get ideas from how other dynasties operate but the underlying current is still their uncompromising resolve to retain and strengthen political and economic leverage not just against other political clans, but also against the people in whose name they claim to run,’’ he told PCIJ.
Ilocos Norte: Trouble between Macoy’s children?
In the midterm elections on Monday, six members of the Marcos political clan are running for public office.
The President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, is seeking reelection. She has bolted the administration ticket and thrown her lot with the Dutertes, whose patriarch Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
It was Duterte who ordered the interment of the strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani months into his presidency in 2016.
But there’s more than meets the eye here, according to Arao, whose group Kontra Daya also checks the expanding influence of political dynasties in the country.
“The relationship between Bongbong Marcos and Imee Marcos is a classic example of how political clans would sometimes go against each other even if they have common interests in terms of consolidating power, wealth and influence,’’ he said.
While they’re not on the “same political page” at the moment, “they are still blood relatives regardless of what happens,” Arao said.
“As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water but class interest is the ‘one ring that rules them all,’ to quote from a classic,” he added.
Marcos’ son, 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, is also seeking reelection.
The President’s cousin-in-law, Vice Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, is running for governor, while his nephew, Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc, is vying for vice governor in a case of position switching, according to PCIJ data.
His cousins, Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon and 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, are also seeking reelection.
Ilocos Sur: The ‘super obese’ dynasty of Singsons
Chavit Singson withdrew from the Senate race as early as Jan. 14, citing his need to recover from pneumonia.
The political kingpin of Ilocos Sur had fared poorly in the polls, trailing far behind the pack of “survey leaders” – composed mostly of reelectionists and returnees except for two broadcaster-brothers – battling for 12 Senate seats.
The withdrawal of the 83-year-old former governor, however, will hardly make a dent on the dynasty’s reign in the province.
At least 23 other Singsons are running for multiple other positions in the province of at least 700,000 in this year’s midterms.
One of his sons, Luis Charles, is running for two positions. He is running for councilor in Narvacan town, and is also the No. 4 nominee of the Ako Ilokano Ako, a party list group currently represented by his sister Richelle Singson.
An aspirant who files a certificate of candidacy (CoC) for more than one office shall not be eligible for any of them, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 11045, promulgated in August 2024.
The aspirant, however, may cancel the CoC for one office in favor of the other, not later than Oct. 8, 2024, the same resolution said. As of this writing, the young Singson remains a candidate for councilor in Narvacan.
“Conceptually, you can’t be a nominee if you’re running for an elective post. It’s like you’re running for two positions,’’ former Comelec commissioner Luie Tito Guia told PCIJ.
Party-list groups can win up to three seats, but nominees have previously stepped aside to let others take their place.
Chavit’s brother, incumbent Gov. Jeremias “Jerry” Singson, and another son, incumbent Vice Gov. Ryan Singson, are running unopposed and up for reelection, bidding to keep the clan’s decades-long foothold in the provincial capitol.
The fact that nobody is challenging Jeremias and Ryan Singson, among others, indicates that the clan has wielded “power and influence through the years despite changes in the administration,” said Arao.
Chavit’s grandniece Janina Singson Medina-Fariñas, and former House Rep. Eric Singson’s son Ericson Singson and niece Fayina Pilar Zaragoza are also vying for seats in the 10-member provincial board.
Chavit and Eric are relatives.
In the capital Vigan City, Chavit’s son Randy Singson is running for mayor unopposed. His nephew, reelectionist Evaristo “Bobit” Singson III, and his sister-in-law, Katherine “Mia” Aguila Singson, are seeking a seat in the city council.
Meanwhile, in Caoayan town, Chavit’s sister, Mayor Germelina Singson Goulart, and her son, Vice Mayor Juan Paolo Singson Ancheta, are seeking another term unopposed.
Chavit’s grandniece Annea Cassandra Singson de Leon is also running for mayor in Sto. Domingo town.
In his own bailiwick Candon City, Eric Singson is running for mayor unopposed. His niece Kristelle Singson is also running for vice mayor unopposed, while his nephew Jaime Singson and son Eric Owen Singson are running for councilor.
In the congressional race, Chavit’s son Rep. Ronald Singson and Eric’s daughter Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan are seeking reelection in the province’s first and second district, respectively.
The Singsons joined the party list race in 2022, when Chavit’s daughter Richelle Singson won a House seat through the Ako Ilokano Ako group.
In this year’s midterms, Richelle is the party list group’s No. 1 nominee, while the rest of its nominees are Eric Singson’s son Allen Singson, and Chavit’s other children, Chelsey Louisse Singson, Christian Luis Singson and Luis Charles Singson, the candidate for councilor in Narvacan.
Another party list group, Probinsiyano Ako, is identified with the Singsons. Its second nominee is Chavit’s brother Jose “Bonito” Singson Jr.
“For the patriarch, it’s his way of letting his sons, daughters and other relatives inherit whatever ‘legacy’ he has, for lack of a better term. He’s actually giving way because he knows that he’s not immortal,” Arao said.
La Union: Oldest political dynasty battle it out against each other
In La Union, the Ortegas’ political journey is one for the books. It all began in 1901, when the American colonial government appointed Don Joaquin Ortega as governor of the province, from 1901 to 1904. Since then, other members have served in various posts.
This year, 12 members of the clan are gunning for different positions. The province has become so small for the growing clan that some are battling one another for the same positions.
For instance, the gubernatorial race pits reelectionist Gov. Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David against her grandfather, incumbent Vice Gov. Mario Ortega.
The 1st District congressional race is a battle between reelectionist Rep. Paolo Ortega and his cousin, incumbent provincial board member Joy Ortega.
In the surfing town of San Juan, Vice Mayor Manuel Ortega is challenging his aunt, Mariquita Padua Ortega, for mayor.
These inter-family contests will guarantee that the clan will keep these posts.
The Ortega clan also seeks to expand to new territory, the 2nd District seat, which a family member is not known to have won before.
Former governor Pacoy Ortega is running for the congressional seat. If he wins, it will mark the first time the Ortega clan controls both districts of the province.
The other candidates are Geraldine “Denny” Ortega for provincial board member; Vice Mayor Alfred Ortega for San Fernando City mayor; Pablo Ortega for San Fernando City vice mayor; and Daniel Bianca Ortega and Jose Mari Ortega for San Fernando City councilor.
Some in the clan acknowledged political disagreements, but said their desire to serve the public motivates them to run against one another, and leave their fate in the hands of voters.
Pangasinan: Relatively new dynasty
In contrast with the durable Ortega dynasty, and obese Marcos and Singson dynasties, the Espinos are a relatively new dynasty in Pangasinan.
In his first foray into politics, Amado Espino Jr., a former police director of Region 1 and a 1972 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, was elected 1st District congressman in 2001.
He won a second term in 2004. Buoyed by his electoral victories in the House of Representatives, he took a crack at governorship and won in 2007, then in 2010 and 2013.
When his term ended in 2016, he made another successful run in the 5th District’s congressional race, while his son Amado III succeeded him as governor.
In 2019, Amado Jr. lost his reelection bid to Ramon Guico III. But other family members were victorious. Amado III won in his reelection bid as governor, his brother Jumel Anthony as 2nd District congressman and his mother Priscilla as mayor of Bugallon town.
In 2022, Amado III lost his bid for a third term as governor to Guico.
This year, Amado III is bidding to win his rematch against Guico in the gubernatorial race, while Amado Jr. seeks to rejoin the House as the No. 1 nominee of Abante Pangasinan-Ilokano party list group.
Changing tides?
The 1987 Constitution bans political dynasty, but Congress has yet to pass an implementing law. Both chambers are largely composed of dynasts.
The problem is, the country’s own system allows dynasties to flourish, said Arao.
But the times may be changing, political analyst Julio Teehankee told PCIJ.
“There’s a growing public sentiment – and you can feel that online – that people are sick and tired of dynasties,’’ Teehankee said.
He said the defeat of 32 candidates from political clans in the 2019 midterms somehow reflected this sentiment, although some managed to make a comeback in 2022.
Citing studies, Teehankee said there’s a correlation between high percentage of obese and fat dynasties, and poverty, underdevelopment and corruption.
Given all this, Arao cited the need for the public to “put pressure” on Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law, and reform the party-list system by including mechanisms that protect the marginalized and under-represented sectors.
“The chances [for the passage of an anti-dynasty law] are quite slim, and in fact, I would even argue it’s impossible if they will decide on their own. And that’s why, to quote from Justice [Antonio] Carpio about the West Philippine Sea, public pressure is also necessary,’’ he said.
“There is a slight possibility where those dynasties will be voting against their own interest if they’re forced to do so,” he added.
Teehankee agreed: “Different sectors of society should continue their full-court press to pressure reform-minded members of dynasties to consider passing the anti-dynasty law, if they’re really interested in public service.” With research from Sherwin de Vera, Northern Dispatch — PCIJ.org