🇵🇭 THE ULTIMATE GAME OF THRONES

🇵🇭 THE ULTIMATE GAME OF THRONES: WHY THE PHILIPPINES TOPS THE WORLD IN UNSTOPPABLE POLITICAL DYNASTIES One politician is expelled. His mother runs for his seat. She wins. Her son then takes over her position as mayor. If you wanted a textbook illustration of how political power can remain inside one Philippine family, Dasmariñas City just provided one. On June 2, 2026, the House of Representatives expelled Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga after voting 265–14 to remove him for disorderly behavior and conduct unbecoming a member. That created a vacancy. His mother, incumbent Dasmariñas Mayor Jennifer “Jenny” Barzaga, entered the August 29 special election. She won overwhelmingly. 🗳️ FINAL RESULT: 201,893 votes And the family succession does not stop there. With Jenny moving from City Hall to Congress, her son, incumbent Vice Mayor Third Barzaga, is set to succeed her as mayor under the rules of local succession. So within one political family: ➡️ Kiko Barzaga loses the congressional seat ➡️ His mother wins the congressional seat ➡️ Her other son moves up to become mayor The congressional seat stays in the family — and so does City Hall. 👑 THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE FAMILY Political dynasties are not unusual in democracies. Japan, India, the United States and many other countries have famous political families. What makes the Philippines remarkable is the scale and “thickness” of dynastic politics. PCIJ found before the 2025 elections that: 📌 216 of 253 district representatives belonged to political families — roughly 85%. 📌 71 of 82 provincial governors were members of political dynasties. 📌 113 of 149 city mayors belonged to political clans. And this is where the Philippines differs from the classic “father hands the seat to son” dynasty. Political scientists distinguish between “thin” dynasties, where relatives succeed one another, and “fat” dynasties, where several relatives occupy different government positions simultaneously. In some Philippine provinces and cities, one family can have relatives serving as governor, vice governor, congressman, mayor and councilor — all at the same time. 🏛️ THE CONSTITUTION ALREADY ADDRESSES THIS Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution states: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” There is the catch: “As may be defined by law.” Nearly four decades later, Congress has still not enacted the comprehensive enabling law necessary to define and prohibit political dynasties. Meanwhile, the families that would potentially be affected remain heavily represented inside the legislature itself. That is the Philippine political paradox. We have term limits. We have elections. We have a constitutional policy against political dynasties. But political power can still move from father to wife, wife to son, brother to sister — and sometimes several family members govern simultaneously. Dasmariñas is therefore not simply an interesting special election. It is a snapshot of a much bigger question: When elected positions repeatedly move between members of the same families, how competitive is Philippine democracy really? 📚 SOURCES: House of Representatives of the Philippines • Commission on Elections/Philippine News Agency • Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) • Ateneo School of Government research on political dynasties • 1987 Philippine Constitution ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The election results and Philippine dynasty figures above are based on official election information, PCIJ research and academic studies. International comparisons of political dynasties use different definitions and methodologies, so claims that the Philippines literally “ranks No. 1” globally should be treated as a description of its exceptionally high concentration rather than a universally accepted official ranking. #Philippines #PoliticalDynasties #Dasmarinas #Cavite #Barzaga #PhilippinePolitics #Congress #PoliticalReform #GoodGovernance #Democracy