Written for The Diplomat
The clamor against the power of political clans in the Philippines has been revived, after the Supreme Court uploaded a copy of the petition seeking an order to compel Congress to pass a law banning political dynasties.
In the meantime, Philippine politics remains largely under the sway of political dynasties who are already maneuvering for power and influence ahead of the midterm election next year.
What the Senate Coup Reveals About Philippine Politics
Written for The Diplomat
The Philippine Senate has a new leadership after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri quit his post to give way to new Senate President Francis Escudero. Reports alleged that Zubiri lost his position after he opposed the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution through a People’s Initiative backed by members of the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is a first cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Zubiri also reportedly lost the support of Marcos allies after he allowed a Senate probe on a leaked document naming the president as among the suspected drug users being monitored by government agencies.
The new Senate leadership faces several challenges ahead of the 2025 midterm elections but its biggest test is to prove its independence from Malacañang. It has yet to make a clearer position on the issue of amending the Constitution. It should use the session break until July to consult with various stakeholders and come up with a new agenda focused on addressing the people’s urgent concerns and demands such as higher wages, stable jobs, better livelihoods, and faster delivery of adequate social services.
Leave a Reply