This year's certificate of candidacy (COC) filing week in the Philippines proved to be an unfortunate fate because it made it simpler for candidates to enter the elections on a whim despite lack of credentials or being convicted.
That puts the Filipino people back in the middle of the same old fight: a circus that never goes away, with influencers, celebrities, and controversial personalities running for public office in an attempt to broaden their influence.
Given the fact that an individual met the minimum requirements promulgated by the government, he/she must or must be; (1) a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, (2) a registered voter, (3) able to read and write, and (4) meet the required age and a resident of the Philippines based on his/her aspired position.
However, Article XI of the 1987 Revised Philippine Constitution, which tackles the Accountability of Public Officers, Section 1 denotes that, “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”
Hence, these candidates made the electoral process more like a spectacle than a serious endeavor. Without a shadow of a doubt, the fine line between helping people and governing the constituents as public servants necessitates careful consideration.
Clash of celebrities
The candidacy of a handful of figures namely Ion Perez, Aljur Abrenica, Willie Revillame, Joaquin Domagoso, Lito Lapid, and nearly 100 celebrities and social media personalities also filed their COC for public office.
Beyond this, the Duterte, Marcos, Villar, and Binay clans still took the chance for public positions while Vilma Santos-Recto with her sons Luis Manzano and Ryan Recto also filed their candidacy.
The familiar faces and names remain, acting as public servants and treating political race as if it were simply another movie set, despite lacking backgrounds in public policy.
Amid the bickering of these influential families, some citizens are voicing their dismay against the corruption and incompetence of those in power.
Based on the official website of the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 1157, which Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel introduced in the current 19th Congress to prohibit the establishment of political dynasties, has been pending with the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms since August 1, 2022.
Unfortunately, the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill filed by the partylist and the Makabayan coalition remains pending in Congress.
The charitable platforms, albeit good, should not be overshadowed by the popular names and good deeds of famous personalities. It is crucial to avoid viewing politics as a training ground because genuine public leaders envision advancing the collective welfare of the majority.
Content creators’ charitable platforms
Next in line are content creators who are now venturing into politics such as Rosemarie “Rosmar” Tan-Pamulaklakin, a multimillionaire entrepreneur and content creator who filed her COC on October 1, claiming she was pushed by her good friends to run for councilor in District I of Manila but is that enough qualification to serve the public?
In addition, influencer on social media Deo Balbuena, also known as "Diwata," announced his candidacy as the Vendors Party's fourth nominee for the 2025 midterm elections. Due to his restaurant's position, Diwata had to deal with permits and ongoing police surveillance as a vendor. He feels that all vendors should have legal representation and a voice to fight for their rights.
Other social media influencers vying for 12 senatorial seats are Willie “Doc Willie” Ong and Mark Gamboa among others.
This electoral process exposes the government as ridicule and a wake-up call for the country to concentrate on fortifying its foundations by addressing the gaps in candidates’ backgrounds. This will help to lessen the widespread problem of politicians being elected primarily to further their hidden agendas and using their positions of authority as political boot camps, which has left a large portion of the government mired in controversy.
After all, competency and policy expertise cannot be substituted for popularity. The Filipinos are sick of seeing their elected leaders use their positions of authority as mere crash courses in politics. While social media popularity can help one win elections, it does not guarantee good governance.
Convicted criminal’s clout chasing
To a greater extent, it is not unusual in the Philippines for candidates to run for public office while on trial or from behind bars.
Apollo Quiboloy, the detained leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), a televangelist, and one of the country's most high-profile fugitives, recently filed COC to run for senator next year through his lawyer, Mark Kristopher Tolentino, despite facing charges in the Philippines and the United States for child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and bulk cash smuggling.
Meanwhile, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia noted that concerns related to Quiboloy's certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) do not fall under the disqualification criteria outlined in Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code and the Local Government Code, specifying that a candidate will be disqualified if they are declared "insane or incompetent"; convicted of subversion, insurrection, or rebellion; sentenced to a penalty of more than 18 months of imprisonment.
Yet, time and again, being accused or convicted of major crimes is no barrier to running for a Senate seat and this manifests political mediocrity.
Election as Challenger for Voting Wisely
While anybody has the constitutional right to run for office, candidates' capabilities must outweigh their capacities. Lawmakers should consider setting minimum educational standards for political leaders, especially national positions, to align governance regulations with those of other professions and to increase public discourse.
Furthermore, this is a critique of the electorate as a whole, rather than just the candidates. Failure in government is a high cost, and voters have seen how miserably this experiment may continue if they do not quench the candidates' sense of responsibility.
They must not be duped by a mere public stunt, but rather determine whether one is fit for public service. Despite the dimming of the light for change, those with high hopes should continue to make decisions to elect true leaders.
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