NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Dynasties Outspent Other Party-List Groups In 2025 Polls
Philippine Congress
Party-list groups linked to political dynasties spent far more on their 2025 election campaigns than groups without dynastic ties, according to an investigation by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).
Based on PCIJ’s analysis of campaign finance reports, party-list organizations with representatives belonging to political families spent an average of ₱30.1 million during the elections, or about ₱0.43 per voter. Groups without dynastic representatives spent significantly less at ₱13.9 million on average, equivalent to roughly ₱0.20 per voter.
The report is part of PCIJ’s broader investigation into how political dynasties have expanded their influence in the party-list system, which was originally created under the 1987 Constitution to give marginalized and underrepresented sectors a voice in Congress.
PCIJ found that 32 of the 64 party-list representatives in the incoming 20th Congress have ties to active political clans.
Among the political families mentioned in the report are relatives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. PCIJ cited Tingog Sinirangan, represented by Yedda Romualdez and her son Andrew Julian Romualdez, as well as Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat, where Harold Duterte won a seat.
The investigation also showed how political clans have steadily increased their presence in party-list elections over the years. In the current 19th Congress, PCIJ said 36 out of 54 party-list groups already had at least one nominee from a political family. For the 2025 elections, at least 78 out of 156 accredited party-list organizations were linked to political dynasties.
Election watchdogs and reform advocates warned that the system has become a “backdoor” for powerful families to expand their influence in the House of Representatives.
The PCIJ report also pointed to another concern: the growing presence of government contractors in the party-list system. According to the investigation, nearly one-third of party-list lawmakers in the 20th Congress have links to companies that received government contracts, relatives involved in government projects, or campaign donors tied to public works deals.
Critics say the trend undermines the original purpose of the party-list system and strengthens calls for long-delayed anti-political dynasty and party-list reform laws in Congress.
Based on PCIJ’s analysis of campaign finance reports, party-list organizations with representatives belonging to political families spent an average of ₱30.1 million during the elections, or about ₱0.43 per voter. Groups without dynastic representatives spent significantly less at ₱13.9 million on average, equivalent to roughly ₱0.20 per voter.
The report is part of PCIJ’s broader investigation into how political dynasties have expanded their influence in the party-list system, which was originally created under the 1987 Constitution to give marginalized and underrepresented sectors a voice in Congress.
PCIJ found that 32 of the 64 party-list representatives in the incoming 20th Congress have ties to active political clans.
Among the political families mentioned in the report are relatives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. PCIJ cited Tingog Sinirangan, represented by Yedda Romualdez and her son Andrew Julian Romualdez, as well as Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat, where Harold Duterte won a seat.
The investigation also showed how political clans have steadily increased their presence in party-list elections over the years. In the current 19th Congress, PCIJ said 36 out of 54 party-list groups already had at least one nominee from a political family. For the 2025 elections, at least 78 out of 156 accredited party-list organizations were linked to political dynasties.
Election watchdogs and reform advocates warned that the system has become a “backdoor” for powerful families to expand their influence in the House of Representatives.
The PCIJ report also pointed to another concern: the growing presence of government contractors in the party-list system. According to the investigation, nearly one-third of party-list lawmakers in the 20th Congress have links to companies that received government contracts, relatives involved in government projects, or campaign donors tied to public works deals.
Critics say the trend undermines the original purpose of the party-list system and strengthens calls for long-delayed anti-political dynasty and party-list reform laws in Congress.
May 27, 2026
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