Manila, May 14, 2025 – The world watched in dismay as the Philippines, once hailed as a beacon of democracy in Southeast Asia, conducted an election marred by political vendettas, systemic failures, and brazen violations of democratic norms. The May 12 polls—ostensibly a celebration of people’s power—instead exposed a political system hijacked by dynasties, undermined by institutional weakness, and tarnished by the Marcos and Duterte factions’ ruthless power struggle.
A Mockery of Democracy: Political Warfare Overshadows Elections
This was no ordinary election—it was a battleground. The UniTeam alliance that brought President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to power in 2022 has collapsed into open warfare. Duterte, impeached in February on corruption charges, now faces a Senate trial while her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, sits in an ICC detention cell for crimes against humanity. The political elite’s infighting has paralyzed governance, turning the elections into a proxy war rather than a democratic exercise.
A Broken System: Outdated Laws, Weak Institutions
The legal framework is a relic of the past. The 1985 Omnibus Election Code, half of which is obsolete, remains in force, creating confusion and legal loopholes. The COMELEC, tasked with safeguarding the vote, overstepped its mandate by issuing last-minute rulings on AI and online voting—effectively legislating from the bench.
Worse, the electoral process was rigged before a single ballot was cast. Over 20% of House races featured unopposed candidates, most from Lakas-CMD, the ruling party. Political dynasties tightened their grip, with 86 out of 155 party-list groups linked to powerful families, betraying the system’s promise of marginalized representation.
Vote-Buying, Violence, and Suppression: Democracy in Name Only
- Vote-buying was rampant, with EU observers documenting cash handouts and “bidding wars” among candidates.
- At least 30 people were killed, including election officials, as political violence flared.
- Red-tagging and intimidation silenced dissent, with activists and opposition figures smeared as communists.
- Access to polling stations was restricted, undermining transparency.
The COMELEC’s efforts to curb fraud were too little, too late. While it disqualified a handful of nuisance candidates, the real offenders—political clans and moneyed elites—operated with impunity.
Media Manipulation and Digital Disinformation
The media landscape, already weakened by the 2020 shutdown of ABS-CBN, was further compromised. State-funded outlets served as propaganda machines for Marcos, while social media drowned in disinformation. Facebook, TikTok, and X became battlegrounds of fake news, with troll armies manipulating narratives and candidates artificially inflating their online presence. Meta’s failure to enforce campaign silence rules allowed PHP 9 million worth of political ads to run illegally on election day.
A Glimmer of Resistance—But Was It Enough?
Civil society fought back. Groups like NAMFREL and PPCRV monitored the count, while Kontra Daya exposed fraud. Yet their efforts were hamstrung by COMELEC’s restrictions—observers were denied access to precincts, and discrepancies in transmitted results fueled suspicions of tampering.
The World Is Watching—And Judging
The international community can no longer turn a blind eye. The EU’s preliminary report highlights systemic flaws, but diplomatic silence from the US and ASEAN risks emboldening Manila’s ruling elite. If the Philippines continues down this path, its democracy will be nothing more than a facade for oligarchic rule.
What Now?
The election results may be in, but the crisis is far from over. With Sara Duterte’s trial looming and Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC case unresolved, the country remains on a knife’s edge. The real test is whether Filipinos—and the world—will demand accountability or allow this democratic backsliding to continue unchallenged.
One thing is clear: The 2025 elections were not a triumph of democracy. They were a warning.
Key Takeaways for Global Observers:
- Dynastic politics have strangled fair competition.
- Legal loopholes enable fraud and manipulation.
- Violence and disinformation are tools of control.
- International pressure is needed to prevent further erosion of democracy.
The Philippines deserves better. The question is—who will fight for it?