At least 18 ‘obese’ dynasties crowned again. Reform advocates chart next steps for 2028

The elections are over. Voters have crowned again many of the country’s entrenched political dynasties.

Despite the results, election reform advocates said the May 2025 polls showed robust  resistance to dynasties and energized the anti-dynasty campaign. 

A few challengers secured victories, while others came close. Some dynasties suffered a downfall while others shrank in number. 

Reform advocates outlined urgent next steps to “take advantage of the gains” for the next 2028 presidential elections.  

At least 18 obese dynasties prevail

By the latest count of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, at least 18 political clans won at least 5 seats in national and local races.

The Singson clan of Ilocos Norte leads the pack with close to 20 seats. The Marcos-Romualdez clans and the Duterte family all also remain obese. 

In the gubernatorial races, 71 of 82 provinces remain in the hands of dynasties. It’s the same number as before the May polls although the names are not always the same.

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Trillanes: Why it’s difficult to defeat dynasties

All the cities in Metro Manila will continue to be led by dynasties, which now include Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, whose son won a seat at the city council.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV failed to unseat the Malapitan dynasty in Caloocan City but put up a fight, garnering almost 229,774 votes. He came up short against Along Malapitan, who received almost 348,592 votes.

Trillanes said there are several factors that make it difficult to defeat dynasties.

“There are many vulnerable sectors in depressed areas. In a choice between good governance, better future and food on the table for a week, the choice is clear to them,” he told PCIJ.

He also underscored the rising cost of campaigns, a major barrier to fair elections that advocates have repeatedly raised. 

“Massive election day operations done on different fronts and different levels, which requires insane amounts of money,” he said.

Hopes for 2028

Twelve dynasties lost in the gubernatorial races. They include Gwen Garcia in Cebu and Llord Allan Jay Velasco in Marinduque. They were dethroned by Pamela Baricuatro and Mel Go, respectively.

Patrick Azanza also defeated a Cua in Catanduanes. In her second try in the gubernatorial race, Sol Aragones bested the Hernandez family in Laguna.

Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) executive director Rona Ann Caritos said the anti-dynasty campaign gained steam although the dominance of the Marcos-Duterte feud in the election discourse in this year’s elections makes it hard to break down the factors behind the losses of some dynasties.

Baricuatro and Go both ran with endorsements from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s political party, for example.

Luie Guia of Democratic Insights Group said it is important to “take advantage of the gains” in the 2025 campaign. He outlined the next steps.

He said there’s a need to continue organizing and engaging in conversations about political dynasties and money in politics in between campaigns.

There’s also a need to expand the constituency of reform before or simultaneously with lobbying for legislative reform, he said.

At least two petitions were filed in the Supreme Court to compel Congress to enact the political dynasty ban.

Some of the elected lawmakers have already promised to support it. — PCIJ.org