ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Election campaign between dynasties and polarizations: Bishops' appeal to consider "the well-being of others"

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - In an election campaign marked by events and statements that polarize voters, the Philippines is heading toward the mid-term elections scheduled for May 12, 2025, in which citizens will elect 12 senators, the entire lower house of parliament, and thousands of regional and local representatives.
The election campaign, which began on February 11, is dominated by the scandal surrounding Rodrigo Duterte, the former president arrested for crimes against humanity at the instigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte continues to run for mayor of Davao City despite his detention at the ICC. This was confirmed by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), which clarified that Duterte has not withdrawn his candidacy for mayor of the city where he began his political career and served for 22 years before becoming president of the Philippines in 2016, nor has he been barred from running. During the 2022 elections, which were later won by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., organizations and observers such as the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) pointed to widespread problems such as vote buying, disinformation campaigns, and even the misuse of state resources by government officials seeking public office.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) - a church body called upon by civil society to oversee the elections to ensure transparency - also highlighted several factors of serious concern: sexist statements by some candidates expressing violence and contempt for others; the presence of political dynasties in the Philippine landscape; and the significant influence of social media on actors involved in Philippine elections, especially in the local context. "The course of the election campaign," said Evelyn Singson, president of the PPCRV, "reminds us that the election is sacred and that we should decide and vote based on important values," citing "fear of God, honesty, education, diligence, helpfulness, caring, and love for the common good." The fight against "political dynasties," which are among the factors that lead to corruption, is the specific subject of a petition submitted to the Supreme Court by a group of citizens, including lawyers, former judges, members of social bodies, some Catholic bishops, and representatives of church organizations. Dynasties are prohibited in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, but Congress has never addressed the issue. The signatories of the petition therefore call - as they did in 2012 - for the passage of a special law defining and prohibiting political dynasties. According to non-governmental organizations, clans still dominate politics today: Currently, a quarter of the Senate is made up of just three families, while in the House of Representatives, eight out of ten district seats are held by family dynasties. In light of the upcoming elections, the Catholic bishops of the Philippines have issued a pastoral letter entitled "Be Concerned for the well-being of others," urging voters to use their voices to protect freedom and ensure the common good. "We must improve the lives of our people, especially the poor and the vulnerable. This is the primary responsibility of a public servant," reads the letter from the Philippine Bishops' Conference, which was read during Sunday Masses across the country. "We need competent leaders and legislators with sincere intentions who serve the good of our parishes, cities, provinces, and the entire country," the letter reads. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)

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