Keywords: 2022 elections; Duterte; Marcos Jr.; electoral reform; COMELEC

Introduction: The Reform Momentum and Missed Opportunities

Elections in the Philippines are free but not necessarily fair or competitive. The rising number of dynastic families in Congress and across different positions in local government has led to categorizations of “obese”, “fat”, and “thin” dynasties. The rising cost of election campaigns favours incumbents with access to the patronage that flows from national political elites down to significant local political players. In the 2022 elections, the ad campaign spending of individual candidates in mainstream media amounted to PHP 1 billion within forty-five days of the ninety-day campaign period. Election, originally meant to provide a change in leadership, is a continuity tool in the Philippines.

Political families have such a grip on the Philippine political landscape that the country volleys from democracy-good governance nostalgia to authoritarian nostalgia. In 2010 with the election of Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III (PNoy) to the presidency, the public pined for good governance, especially after the death of democracy icon Corazon Aquino. Filipino voters in 2010 successfully catapulted a reluctant presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino to Malacañang riding on the coattails of the passing of his democracy icon mother. The election of PNoy raised hopes that reforms, especially in the political and electoral arena, would accelerate. In 2022 with the election of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., there was authoritarian nostalgia for the authoritarian leadership of Marcos Sr. It was a triumphant return to Malacañang of the namesake of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos.