Children of Politicians Running For Seats in the PH 2022 Election

With the Philippines being a democracy, anyone with the right qualifications may gun for elected positions in the government, this includes political families.

While Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits political dynasties, saying, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law,” the constitutional provision is not being implemented.

A paper titled “Political Dynasties in the Philippines: Persistent Patterns, Perennial Problems” by Professor of Political Science Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem, Ph.D., and University of the Philippines Professional Lecturer of Asian Studies says that 84.5 percent of the 200 elected members of the House of Representatives being members of pre-1972 traditional families.

The country has yet to have a definitive answer for preventing political dynasties in the country, with the question being asked in almost every national election debate.

With the country not having a safeguard from the loophole, members of political families may still run for positions in the government. Here are some examples of children of prominent political figures currently running for seats in the government come the May 2022 elections.

Sandro Marcos

Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the eldest son of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and grandson to the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is running for a congressional post to represent Ilocos Norte’s first district in the 2022 elections.

The 27-year-old is going up against another political dynasty, the Fariñas family for the post, as Ria Christina Fariñas, the daughter of veteran politician Rodolfo “Rudy” Fariñas, is the current representative of Ilocos Norte’s first district.

Sandro was appointed as the economic consultant of the Ilocos Norte government and has been present during meetings with local leaders.

He has also served as a political affairs officer of his uncle and House Majority Leader Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, for more than two years, prior to filing his certificate of candidacy.

Jolo Revilla

Actor-politician Jolo Revilla, son of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, is part of the political-showbiz family of Revilla, and is running for the congressional seat of the 1st district of Cavite.

Revilla is also currently on his third and final term as Cavite’s vice-governor.

Jolo Revilla currently holds the Philippine political feat of being the youngest vice-governor elected in history when he took the helm as Cavite’s vice governor in 2013, when he was only 25-years-old.

As an actor, Jolo was last seen in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano when he portrayed the fictional Presidential Security Group Commander Harold Casilag.

Jinggoy Estrada

Former Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, the son of former-president Joseph Marcelo “Erap” Ejercito Estrada and former Senator Luisa Pimentel-Ejercito Estrada, is looking to make a comeback as a senator in the Philippines.

Estrada is currently still facing plunder charges following the infamous pork barrel scam, in which “ghost projects” were funded using the Priority Development Assistance Fund of senators. While the Supreme Court is still hearing the cases against Estrada, Senator Bong Revilla has already been acquitted.

Prior to this year’s election candidacy, Estrada lost a bid for the senate in 2019. He was jailed in 2016 but posted bail. (GFB)