After the May 9 reactionary elections, the number of dynasties and political families elected in office from the provincial to the national levels increased. This comes as no surprise as majority of those who vied for office came from rival dynasties. Many who “won” were supporters of the Marcos-Duterte tandem, or played neutral, and had control over national and local officials of the Commission on Elections.

From the highest positions, the Marcos-Romualdez clan clinched the most positions. From Ferdinand Jr. as the highest official of the country, seven others from the clan will sit in office for the following years. They are Sandro Marcos, son of Marcos Jr., representative of Ilocos Norte first district; Matthew Marcos Manotoc, son of Imee Marcos, as governor of Ilocos Norte; and Cecilia Araneta Marcos as vice governor. They will join Imee Marcos who currently sits as senator.

Three Romueladezes won in Leyte, including Martin Romualdez as congressman, his wife as representative of Tingog Partylist, and cousin Alfred as Tacloban City mayor. Martin Romueldez is being groomed to sit as Speaker of the House.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Duterte’s sons all won positions—Sara as vice president, and his two other children as mayor and representative of Davao City’s first district.

In the Senate, six of 24 seats were clinched by politicians hailing from three “fat” dynasties. They include mother and son Cynthia and Mark Villar who come from one of the most favored bureaucrat-capitalist families under the Duterte regime.

In addition, siblings Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano will sit as senators. Brothers JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada, sons of Joseph Estrada, also got senate seats. 
Clinching seats in local politics

From Luzon to Mindanao, decades-old dynasties continue to rule their turfs.

In Maguindanao, the Ampatuans continue to rule despite the conviction of their patriarch Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and his siblings for the massacre of 58 people, 32 of which were journalists, in Shariff Aguak in November 2009. Of the 39 Ampatuans who vied for positions, 29 “won.” Six as mayors, five as vice mayors and 18 as councilors in towns dubbed as the “Ampatuan Empire.”

In Metro Manila, familiar faces and surnames were elected into position. In 16 cities and one municipality, eight mayors came from known political dynasties.

In Masbate, five members of the Kho family clinched all high elective positions (governor, vice governor and representatives of three districts.)

In Camarines Sur, the Villafuertes, with three positions, ruled. In Albay, the Rosals (two positions) ang Salcedas (five positions) dominated. In Catanduanes, three Chua siblings won as governor, vice governor and mayor. Husband and wife Hamor won as mayor and vice of Sorsogon City. Two of the Escuderos of Sorsogon, Chiz as senator and sister Detter as congresswoman, will be in government at the same time.

In Cavite, the Barzagas, Remullas and Revillas perpetuated themselves in power. In addition, Ramon “Bong” Revilla currently sits as senator.

In Ilocos Sur, the Singson family tightened its power grip. Four from their family will sit as governor, vice governor and representatives of two districts of the province. In Abra, father and daughter tandem Dominic Valera and Joy Bernos won as governor and vice governor. Their Bernos relatives clinched three other positions. In Apayao, the Bulut family will continue its dominance after taking four positions.

In Lanao del Sure, three high elective positions went to the Alonto-Adiong family. In Camiguin island, the Romualdo family maintained monopoly of local politics after clinching four high elective positions.

In 2019, 163 political families occupied government positions. This has likely gone up this year.