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Last May 13, 2019, the Philippines held their general elections for the spot for various local government positions and for the senate. There has been an uproar regarding the list of candidates due to some being unqualified and fit for the position (a former head of the national police, television actors, an artist, person who has 16 counts of graft and corruption on his name, someone who constantly fakes her credentials, etc.).
Unfortunately, those who I just mentioned received and won their spot in the senate- the legislative branch that is responsible for making laws.

I do not want to sound politically bias (although it may sound like) but I really feel devastated about the results. I mean, there are lots of candidates whose credentials are far more fitting than most of them. Voting someone who just stole millions of Pesos from the people and still won on the elections?

Do you really think that democracy is dead and is unfitting in the Philippines? If yes, what form of government should be integrated in order to address this issue?

https://i.postimg.cc/fRxqqPxT/Screen-Shot-2019-05-14-at-8-59-33-PM.png
photo from philstar.com

It was never a democracy from the start, the Americans pretty much made sure of that during the first election they administered. It gave a huge advantage to political dynasties that they've remained entrenched as they were during the Hispanic era. Ever noticed that '87 "Constitution" specified that political dynasties would not be allowed but no proposed law to regulate it ever passed?

https://i.redd.it/5f426nvhuaw21.jpg

That is actually true. It is stated in the Constitution that political dynasties are prohibited yet almost all local governments positions were taken over by families who share the same surname.

I just find it really depressing that our senatorial candidates are filled with people who are endorsed by our president- let almost all are unqualified for the job. I cannot fathom on why our countrymen voted someone who stole money directly in our pockets!

Bong Go, Revilla, and Dela Rosa are the top surprises in this senate election. In fact these people are not good as senators. When Dela Rosa was interviewed, he said that if there would be some seminars on law making, he'll be down to that. HOW TF PEOPLE VOTED FOR A PERSON THAT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE LAWS. And that's their job on our country. Revilla? So, the senate will be a dance show now? Because of dancing Budots he won. Just because he's handsome he won. Philippines will be dead now. That guy stole money from the country and those people still believes on this guy.

But credentials does not matter know. Remember in 1986 a housewife of a known presidentiable won.  ;D.

What a shame that my fellow country men would just ignore the issue and vote who they only know of course it would be the famous actors from the past.
And I really hate it that those people are so ignorant and would just vote who they want base on the looks of the candidates,
Funny how this woman answer the question why she would vote Bong Revilla,
Youtube Link (https://youtube.com/watch?v=WtCEvKxo8mg) she would still vote him because he is handsome despite the fact that he is a corrupt politician,
And when they were ask about the candidates platform they couldn't answer it they would just vote him because of his looks.

Democracy is not dead in the Philippines IMO basing on the result. You may not like it but that's the voice of the people.

For candidates who have pending cases, they should be ban from running for government post and this entail amendments to the Constitution but i think this is very far from happening as those who will amend the Constitution will be affected.

it doesnt matter who you vote for just a different name and a diffrent face,

look how democracy is dying in uk

Well this just proves that the big criminals wear suits and ties ,Not tattoos and stripes.
And the law only applies to the poor .
Such a shame that they would put the hands of the Philiplines to those people.

People will often not vote for the person based on their personal character, they will vote based on the candidates agenda.

Unless there is some evidence of election fraud, or that the elections were otherwise unfair, I would not say that democracy is dead. You need something beyond not liking/agreeing with the outcome.

The voice of the people? That is where the problem rises due to the majority of voters do not have a voice of their own. Not to be rude but the majority who voted for these candidates are also the people who are unaware of the current state of the country. I just cannot accept that these candidates won despite having criminal and civil cases filed before them. If this is the voice of the people wherein they vote for alleged criminals, artists, a person who does not even know what the job of a senator is, and a thief, then our country is doomed.

I do agree that the Constitution must be amended in order to address this problem of candidates running with pending cases. But again, the people who are responsible for the amendment of the Constitution are the legislative branch, so this may be far from happening.

You are right Democracy is dead, back in Ancient Greece, that is the only time there has been a democracy and the only reason they stopped was because population got to high and they had no way to take everyone votes each day, no computers at the time so that was not a option, then another nation kind of demolished them.

It maybe the other way around, people are more engaged in social media thus making them aware of the candidates they are voting for. The opposition candidates just fell short of convincing people to vote for them, they go against the platform of a high trust rating government and they seem out of tune to the voice of the people (surveys). How can we expect them to win.

Our country is already doomed and thanks to the current administration for saving it, i may sound biased but that is how i saw it.

Yeah most of the voters are so ignorant sorry for the word but that is how I see it,
This is the worst people are making this like a school room election they wouldn't care about who wins or not,
They wouldn't care until they feel the consequence of their action when the country face some calamity .

That someone is Ramon Revilla but he was proven innocent although he had to return the millions of dollars that he allegedly stole, I never voted for this guy even campaign for people not to vote for him, but so many people in the Philippines goes for popularity than credibility and this really harm us.

As far as I know, the current President is pursuing another form of government right?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/22/1903720/duterte-federalism-must-be-within-constitution

And so with the recent results of the Philippine Senatorial elections, it looks like Duterte can make a final push for Federalism in the Philippines. I wouldn't say that Democracy is dead in Philippines, but there are a lot of loopholes and it's been exploited since the widow of Benigno Aquino became the President after the fall of the Marcoses. But I was quite to see, Marcos, Imee, in the top 12. It means the popularity is the one of the main ingredients for Filipinos when voting.  ;D

That is why I argue that democracy cannot be integrated if that is the mindset of the majority of the voters in our country. If they are clueless about the history of every candidate as they base their votes solely on popularity and hearsay, I think that a democratic form of government would not fit. We can implement strategies in order to enlighten each voter but I still believe that this problem will exist.

Yet a lowly government clerk need a bachelor's degree and need to pass a civil service exam. Of course these families, which are no better than mafias, are the ones who write laws so they'd never put in anything that would harm their interests.

They're all the same, even this more "popular" government. Remember they are pushing for the removal of term limits and who knows what other stuff they'll try to insert in the new constitution. And yet the fools just dance to the music...


Basically people here don't have standards. There's no changing these country while people are like this AND the old blood is alive. We need something else. #RevolutionNotElection


He'd be lucky to be alive to serve one more term so no, I don't think he'll bother running again. The guy is basically on opioids just to manage pain. He would definitely try to get a child in there. After all he said he don't believe there should be any restrictions on political dynasties.

Actually this kind of government is what Duterte was pursuing even before he was proclaimed as President. It has good sides. It makes those high rank politicians not steal money from the people. The taxes will be given to those politicians that are sitting on the locale government.

It is so disgusting to see this kind of situation but it is the people/voters that are to be blamed. They are complaining all the time about a poor and corrupt government but yet when given the chance to choose during election they are choosing those that are proven to be thieves and incompetent candidates once again to take place. People are not learning but repeating willful mistakes over and over again.

There is a saying from Mirriam Defensor Santiago saying that "Idiots can be elected by idiots." It's those people fault that didn't voted wisely on whatever the outcome maybe in the next years.

Voting Revilla is a good start. :). Remember in Cavite he was voted by 99% of overall voters on that place.

IMO, voter education should be promoted.

I once read an article about Socrates' view on democracy. Quote:


Even back then during the Ancient times, they encountered some problems with the democracy system and experienced some failure in their election. There were those who were wrongly charged because of this system and back then a wrong charge is fatal because hanging or death was the penalty.

And proper voter education does not pertain only to the uneducated or low class. You'd be surprised by the voter turnout among the elite.

To reiterate, I would like to quote what I have read from the article:

"We have forgotten all about Socrates’s salient warnings against democracy. We have preferred to think of democracy as an unambiguous good – rather than a process that is only ever as effective as the education system that surrounds it."
- source (https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/why-socrates-hated-democracy/)

What democracy? There never was a democracy. It has always been a feudal country. In some parts of Mindanao politicians even run unopposed coz the only politicians are from the same family, they just take turns in office. As the Ampatuans have shown, the sense of entitlement among the feudal lords is strong. This area in particular see more election violence than most regions. The warlords see it as their right to stay in office.

Up north people are actually less prone to viewing politicians like Divine Rights nobility unlike the Muslim areas but they are still no better electorate. They vote on name recall. Keeps complaining that nothing changes but their voting habits don't change at all.

Am actually always been disappointed with elections here. I go out of my way to research candidates, print out sample ballots for my family so they don't hold up the line in the polls, etc. Still the elections turn out harrowing and pretty much none of the people I chose make it to office and instead we get clowns like the Revillas.

Yes, it's callled vote buying. During the campaign period or days before the election, candidates give out around 500 pesos to registered voters along with a sample ballot or list of who to vote for. Some were actually caught and arrested by the police, see in article (https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/13/1917361/pnp-147-arrested-vote-buying). If you're wondering why there are people gullible enough to accept this is because 500 pesos goes a long way for some. For me, what's more surprising is the "mass or union voting of one religion wherein they require all the members of a church to vote for particular candidate/s.

Normally, kids as young as 15 years old are not allowed to vote but there has been alleged cheating within the Mindanao area where even those already dead were able to cast a vote. It has not been verified yet, however. There has been many speculations that the computer vote tracking systems were comprised because of the inconsistent reports and numerous faulty vote counting machines.

That only proves that we do practice democratic acts (Not because you don't favor the result you are right and others are wrong) You can't also name call them. I also don't agree with some of the politicians that enters the top 12 but I respect other peoples point of view in life and that is how a democratic country look like.



That is right but at least he is being honest and he is willing to learn. It is not just about making a certain laws but it is all about creating a law that is followed. In the previous elections we have been voting a lot of lawyers but what have they done? Nothing and guess what they've been only getting the funds for their gains.


Stop under estimating people and stop being hypocrite, Look at what manny pacquiao have done in the senate? being the low class because of not having a high level of educational background. He has done more things than the other lawyers you people are talking about.


You do talk about sh*ts after looking at how they perform and for now shutting up your mouth and respecting their wins can be the very best thing you can do for your country.

Ah, the classic religious persuading! I saw from the news that one of the major religious groups here in the Philippines started to endorse a list of candidates which in my opinion, are the worst from all the participants. Not only they endorsed candidates that are corrupt but also they included thieves, liars, and incompetent ones which are against what they are promoting for. They say that they uphold their 'morals and values' but their decision says otherwise.

Again, there is something called separation of the church and state but if the religious groups MANDATE their own members to vote for a particular list of candidates (which is for their best interest), then this is a clear violation.


Let me argue in the first paragraph: suppose you went to visit a hospital and ask for a prescription for your illness and then someone approaches you saying that he cannot give or prescribe anything BUT HE IS WILLING TO LEARN ABOUT IT. If honesty and the willingness to learn are the determining factor in order to get a spot in the legislative branch, then sign everyone up!

Let us now talk about Senator Pacquiao. I watched a video of him in the Senate arguing against Senator Drilon over the creation of a Philippine Boxing Commission. Hell, he cannot even answer the questions on his own! He has people coaching and whispering him at the back just to speak an answer to Drilon's remarks! I am not invalidating that Pacquiao is a bad guy but the question falls on competency. Oh yeah, do not forget the number of absences he already incurred in the Senate!

The point is, there are better and competent candidates on the list who were not given a chance due to the voting done by these people.

You are right, this is the reason why I never wanted to vote and get involved in the politics. There are too much information that will drain your mind. Before, the people are complaining about the corruption the country gets from the officials. Now, they are so much disappointed why a few of the people they expected not to be part of the list are elected.

I have read this statement from one of the most trending post about Bong Revilla. Bong Revilla always tops in the senatorial election. He has a great potential of having the votes of our people. And then, of course in the politics there are  a lot of group and divisions due to different perspectives and visions. This guy (Bong) published that he would like to run for a president. His competition was threaten with that and they knew there is a lot of chance that Vhong would win the presidential election. That is the time they did the best to ruin and make Bong's name dirty.

They filed a lot of criminal cases against this guy. Yet he proved that he is not guilty for all the cases thrown to him. Let's just see if this guy will clean his name as the senatorial officials now are so strong.

Duterte's best choice was by running and publishing his presidency in the later/last minute of registrations. The past winning group was shocked and never had a chance to ruin his name.

POLITICS WILL NEVER BE CLEAN. Its a cancerous lifestyle to be with that industry.

Of course vote buying is illegal ,
And I think it is not the first time since it is being talk openly in your area.
And ghost voting isn't new I think they should really investigate this kind of things ,
Just imagine how many votes did they use or add using the name of a dead person.

So are you in favor of federalism being pushed by Duterte then? I think democracy has some flaw, but I don't know how will federalism will change the course of the Philippines or if voters will used their intelligence to pick the winners. But goodluck to the Philippines!!!.

It's frustrating to know that these things still happened out there in Mindanao. I've never been there, only heard on the news that some parts of it are still controlled by the warlords. Duterte has big plans for Mindanao in terms of peace and order but feuding warlords seems to disagree with each other. MNLF and MILF should prioritize first the welfare of it's people and not on who hold power on Mindanao. As an ordinary citizen of the republic, i find it very complicated on how to bring peace to the land of Promise.

To be honest, I am actually clueless as to which kind of government the Philippine needs. That is why I am asking for suggestions and arguing the flaws over democracy. Imagine if federalism were to be implemented, every region has its jurisdiction, laws, and budget depending on their needs. Since the Philippines is geographically and ethnocentrically fragmented, Duterte is pushing federalism as the new type of government but I also believe that it will only bring more harm than good.


Unfortunately, even the recent signing of the Bangsamoric Basic Law, peace and order calls for Mindanao. Like what you mentioned, warlords are prominent and governing most of the local states there.

Why would compare being a doctor to a politician? A doctor needs a license while a being a senator doesn't. Therefore both position in the society are different, let me also remind you that Bato is a graduate of PMA (probably one of the prestigious military academy in the Philippines)

Therefore him probably making a psychological statement leads people to think that He is not capable and have forgotten his background.



You talking about pacman  2 years ago yes he might not be as good as the others but look at pacman right now.
https://www.facebook.com/MannyPacquiao/posts/bills-ive-authored-passed-into-law-arranged-per-date-of-passage-total-laws-passe/2033318463638836/

The most incompetent senator you have ever seen in your life have done a lot of work for the past years. For me that is still a good job proving his capacity is not a hindrance of doing his job properly and improving at the same time. A good example would be Leni Robredo  :P



As I have told , I also don't fully agree with the entire result of senatorial election but you have to respect what the people have decided. Most of the Filipinos are sick and tired of having the most competent politicians doing nothing on the senate plus being corrupt. We know that there are people who are actually more deserving than others like Glenn Chong and Willie Ong but again it is all about respecting other people's point of view.

@qwertyup23  That's what I foresee. This country has never been completely united anyway. If you split it back to its component regions then you'd see them each going their own way and maybe even challenging the federal government and demanding secession. I can totally see the Muslim areas going full Sharia, which would cause conflict with the federal gov't.

@bisdak40 Haha some idiot MILFer tried to throw a grenade at an outpost as their van passes by, the grenade went back in and exploded inside. This was during election day and I believe it was in Marawi. Shame the mofos didn't just die.

And we were signing ANOTHER agreement with these animals. Thing is no amount of concessions would fix that godforsaken place. The national government has been pumping money into it since the first agreement with the MNLF with nothing to show for.

It sounds racist but sometimes I think the people themselves are defective. You probably seen that commotion in an election spot (also in Marawi). These people are hotheaded, clannish and have a gun culture they bring wherever they migrate into other regions.

If this shithole is every gonna split up into multiple countries there should be a "repatriation" program to just keep everyone away from each other, like how India and Pakistan exchanged their Hindus and Muslims. Hopefully more peaceful though.

Why some people says that democracy in the philippines is dead? Well for me is not.as long as people vote of what they want the democracy is still there.this is the law they have so people participate and follow the law they impliment.Philippines is a free counrty democracy is not dead

So, a country where the Midterm Elections are decided by CNN and the News Corporations, over there democracy is alive?