Mid-term elections led to better outcomes for the party of Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Democratic Party, increasing the chance of increased political rivalries in the coming days. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, in the midterm elections held last month, the party of President Ferdinand Marco Jr., the Federal Party, got six out of 12 contested seats in the Senate, the upper house of the bicameral Philippines Congress consisting of 24 senators, making the dominance of the President, shaky while making Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, powerful. But the vital aspect is whether these will have remarkable impacts in the Philippines.
One of the crucial impacts can be the further rise in dynasty-based political rivalries in the coming days between the Marcos and Duterte families. Several causes including the arrest and sending of Rodrigo Duterte — the former president who was elected mayor in the 2025 mid-term elections — to the International Criminal Court in the Hague over the allegation of crimes against humanity during his campaign against drug traffickers that killed thousands and the impeachment move against the Vice President by the government of President Ferdinand Maco Jr., who came to power in 2022 and is the son of Ferdinand Marcos who ruled for twenty years from 1965, which have already heightened a dynasty-based political battle between the parties, will increase rivalries further.
But another vital aspect is whether the dynasty-based political rivalry will impact governance and other aspects in the Republic of the Philippines in the coming days. It is not surprising at all. This may not only change the political landscape but also bring economic and other impacts. Pertinently saying, there is already high corruption, weak rule of law and insufficient transparency and accountability in local governments. These have hindered economic development, exacerbated social inequalities and led to other negative impacts, including impacts on poverty reduction and access to essential services in the Philippines where the cost of living is on the rise.
Photo credit: https://edition.cnn.com/.
The rising rivalries can lead to political polarization in the government, which is not yet a notable problem in the Philippines, increased corruption and weakened institutions — hindering long-term progress further. Moreover, such rivalries can lead to decreased public trust in the government and political violence. The dynasty-based rivalry, which has by this time led the leaders busily fight among themselves in the past neglecting various issues including the recovery from cyclone-hit Philippines, will increase the possibility of negative impacts on economic development and poverty reduction and social inequality further.
But addressing rising political rivalries can be more challenging in the coming days. Several causes can make it difficult to address rising rivalries. A battle for power and the differing interests of the parties, the entrenched nature of dynastic politics and the influence of political patronage systems, along with other issues including the impeachment move of the president and his party against the Vice President, who intends to vie for the presidency in 2028, will make things further difficult to be addressed.
But political talks may help address various causes. Additionally, keeping the public offices unpolarized by the parties and keeping the political feuds in politics in the Philippines will be helpful. It is also desired that measures be taken to address various concerns, no matter whether the political rivalry between the parties increases in the coming days, including the rising costs of living.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
