By Diego Morra
Tanggol Magsasaka has slammed the failure of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop the operation of bogus partylists, noting that in the farming sector, four such partylists have been accredited as representing peasants even when they are subsidized, managed and controlled by political dynasties, business tycoons and human rights violators. Only the Makabayan Coalition has called for dismantling of sham partylists that do not represent marginalized constituencies.
In its stern warning to all Filipino voters, Tanggol Magsasaka said the partylist system has to be overhauled since those who wrested seats at the House of Representatives under the system represent not the peasants or rural workers but their principals. Allowing the system to continue is to legitimize the masquerade of political dynasties, plutocrats and retired generals as the “champions” of farmers. Tanggol Magsasaka argued that these poseurs further marginalize, impoverish and exploit the masses by crafting laws that benefit their landlord, corporate, and bureaucratic interests. These interests are the very reason why the country cannot liberate itself from the agrarian crisis.
Tanggol Magsasaka tagged that the spurious interpretation of the partylist law allowed landlords, compradors, plutocrats and political dynasties to become representatives of poor farmers, defeating the very purpose why the law was enacted, to amplify the voices of marginalized sectors such as peasants, workers and indigenous peoples. “This is not just electoral fraud. This is political identity theft on a national scale,” said Tanggol Magsasaka spokesperson Ronnie Manalo. “When political dynasties and landlords pose as defenders of rural-based sectors, they rob farmers not just of their votes, but of their rightful voice in shaping policies — perpetuating a cycle of oppression and exclusion.”
Citing information from election watchdog Kontra Daya, Manalo said that no less than 70% of partylist groups contesting seats this year have links to political dynasties, big business, the military or police or to corrupt elements. He added that in the case of the farming sector, four out of the 10 so-called “pro-farmer” partylists do not represent farmers. Manalo urged all voters — especially those in rural communities — to stay vigilant, critical, and organized, and to reject partylist groups and candidates who exploit farmers’ names for personal and political gain. “If we want real change, we must ensure that genuine peasants and advocates — not landlords and generals — speak for farmers in Congress.”
Tanggol Magsasaka tagged four partylist groups that pose as pro-farmer advocates but are subsidized by elite interests. First is Magsasaka Partylist, which is plagued by internal disputes and questionable nominees, including former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Debold “Mañanita” Sinas, who has been involved in countless peasant massacres and human rights abuses. Second is Abono Partylist that is controlled by the Estrella political dynasty of Pangasinan, which has been implicated in the pork barrel scam. Third is Agri Partylist, which is dominated by the Lee family, which is behind the LKY Group of Companies. Fourth is the Angat Partylist of the Tamayo-Jimenez political dynasty of South Cotabato that has direct ties with the Marcos Jr. political party.
“Every election cycle, farmers — the backbone of our nation and the poorest of the poor — are deceived by wolves in farmers’ clothing,” said Manalo. “This year is no different — and perhaps even worse.” Tanggol Magsasaka reiterated its call for voters to scrutinize partylist candidates and reject these plunderers. “Representation is meaningless if it serves landlords, corporations and tyrants,” Manalo concluded. Control of the parylist system has been snatched away from the marginalized but in the case of national political parties, plutocrats have been ruling the roost, as what the International Observers’ Mission (IOM) of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) found out.
Billionaires Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Ramon Ang of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Enrique Razon of the National Unity Party (NUP) are permanent fixtures in Philippine politics, directly influencing elected politicians and the policies crafted by the executive branch. These plutocrats are the real power behind what purport to be political parties that control 33.3% of the elected members of the House of Representatives. The fourth political faction is led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who presides over the Marcos-Romualdez political dynasty that organized the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas (ABP) for May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
Only the progressive Makabayan Coalition has consistently filed anti-political dynasty bills owing to the clear intent of the framers of the 1987 Constitution to do away with the politics of inheritance but this has been limited to a large degree by the opposition of political dynasties that hold sway in all regions and control both houses of Congress. The most that Congress did was to pass term limits that restrict elective officials from holding their positions for three consecutive terms. However, the loophole is that wives, children, brothers and sisters could technically succeed them, thus making a mockery of the anti-political dynasty provision of the Basic Law. #
