Concerns have grown over how party list elections — originally designed to empower marginalized and under-represented sectors — have been co-opted by political dynasties.

The outcome of the 2025 elections may continue this pattern, as several party list groups with links to political dynasties are leading in the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from April 20 to 24, 2025.

Five party list groups have a chance of winning the maximum three seats in the House of Representatives.

Four groups have ties to political dynasties. Three are linked to senatorial candidates: reelectionist Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., broadcasters Erwin and Ben Tulfo, and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

All five groups are currently represented in the lower chamber of Congress and may expand their influence through additional seats.

Duterte Youth

The party list group, Duty to Energize the Republic through the Enlightenment of the Youth (Duterte Youth), which occupies one seat in the House, led the Pulse Asia Survey.

The group that brands itself as the only anti-left party-list group is known for its staunch support of Vice President Sara Duterte and former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Duterte Youth’s current representative and first nominee, Drixie Mae Cardema, is the sister of the party chair and former National Youth Commissioner Ronald Cardema, who is running for provincial board member in Laguna. Ronald’s wife, former Duterte Youth party list representative Ducielle Marie Cardema, is running for the Calamba City council.

The party list group is facing a disqualification complaint because of Ronald’s repeated red-tagging of university students.

Agimat

Agimat also occupies one seat in the House.

Bryan Bautista Revilla, the party list group’s current representative in the lower chamber, is also its first nominee in the 2025 polls. He is the son of Senator Revilla and Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado.

In the 2022 elections, Agimat garnered significant support from the Revilla political clan’s bailiwick, Cavite, where it secured 210,551 out of its total 586,909 votes.

ACT-CIS

Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support party list group, better known as ACT-CIS, presents itself as a group advocating for anti-crime and as “kakampi ng mga naaapi” (ally of the oppressed). Closely associated with media personalities such as the Tulfo brothers, the party has leveraged its strong presence in public service broadcasting to build political capital.

Its second nominee and current representative, Jocelyn Tulfo, is the wife of Sen. Raffy Tulfo. Their son, Ralph Tulfo, is seeking reelection as Quezon City 2nd District representative. Meanwhile, Raffy’s brothers — Erwin Tulfo (current ACT-CIS representative and former DSWD secretary) and Ben Tulfo — are also eyeing seats in the Senate.

But the Tulfos aren’t the only political family embedded in the party list system. First nominee Edvic Go Yap is the brother of former ACT-CIS representative and now Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City Councilor Egay Yap.

4PS

The party list group’s first nominee and party leader, Marcelino Libanan, is the House Minority Leader and was Eastern Samar’s vice governor and a former Bureau of Immigration commissioner. 

Its second nominee and current representative, Jonathan Clement Miranda Abalos II, is the son of former Mandaluyong City councilor Jon Abalos, grandson of current Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr., and nephew of senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos, himself a former Mandaluyong mayor. 

Meanwhile, the fourth nominee, Eloisa Salvacion Ellado Libanan-Gonzales, is the daughter of party leader Libanan and wife of Sheen Gonzales, former mayor of Guiuan town and vice governor of Eastern Samar, who is now running for congressman in the province’s lone district. 

In the 2022 polls, the party list group dominated in Mandaluyong—a known Abalos stronghold—with 12.84% of the local votes. It also made significant gains in Eastern Samar, where Libanan’s family continues to wield influence, securing 20.13% of the votes.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Senior Citizens Party list group aims to represent the welfare and rights of elderly Filipinos in the House. In 2022, it secured one seat for Rodolfo Ordanes. He now tops the current list of nominees, followed by Carmencita Lacson and eight others.

However, the group’s history is marked by internal power struggles and legal complications. In 2013, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified the group due to a prior ruling that the party list system was no longer exclusive to marginalized sectors.

The Supreme Court later overturned the disqualification and ordered the proclamation of winners, but a dispute between two sets of nominees delayed the seating of any representative. Similar conflicts plagued the 2016 and 2019 elections, with the party submitting multiple conflicting nominee lists. These factional battles prominently featured Francisco Datol Jr., Milagros Magsaysay, and Godofredo Arquiza, all claiming leadership and legitimacy.

By 2022, the division had become more formalized: Magsaysay ran and won a seat under a separate party list group, United Senior Citizens, while Ordanes held the sole seat for Senior Citizens Party.

Seven other groups with links to dynasties have a chance to win two seats each.

TINGOG

Tingog Sinirangan, which currently holds two seats in the 19th Congress, positions itself as a regional party list group representing the interests of Eastern Visayas, with focus on addressing national issues through a local lens.

Its slate of nominees reflects the entrenched political influence of the Romualdez family in the region. First nominee Andrew Julian Romualdez is the son of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and incumbent Tingog Rep. Yedda Kittilstvedt Romualdez. Yedda is the group’s sixth nominee. The third nominee, Marie Josephine Kittilstvedt Calatrava, is Yedda’s sister and wife of Presidential Adviser on the Visayas Terence Calatrava.

In 2022, Tingog dominated the Eastern Visayas vote, topping the party list race in Leyte and Biliran.

USWAG ILONGGO

Uswag Ilonggo Party list group, which currently holds a seat in the House, claims to represent the interests of residents in Iloilo and the broader Western Visayas region. The group promises regional development and improved access to services for Ilonggos.

The group’s second nominee, Maria Lourdes Miraflores, is the wife of Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores.

In the 2022 elections, the daughter of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas was the party list group’s second nominee. It dominated the party list vote in Iloilo province.

PPP

Puwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP) positions itself as the voice of fisherfolk, advocating for sustainable blue economy initiatives and the development of maritime communities. While it highlights sectoral concerns related to fisheries and coastal livelihoods, the party list group is also known for its close ties to the Dutertes.

Its first nominee, Harold James Duterte, is a cousin of Vice President Duterte, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Second nominee Matthew Bryan Lim is a known ally of Paolo Duterte.

NANAY

The group’s first nominee, chef Florabel Co-Yatco, is best known for her successful restaurant ventures such as Corazon, Crisostomo, Elias, Felix, and Sisa’s Secret.

She has spoken about how her political involvement was made possible by the support of her husband Chris Yatco, a businessman and a member of the influential Yatco political family in Laguna.

Its second nominee, Ananias Canlas, currently serves as a provincial board member of Pampanga. Its third nominee Yolanda Pineda is the wife of Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda of the Pineda clan—a political powerhouse that includes Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda, who is running for governor this year.

AKO BICOL

Its top nominee and current representative, Elizaldy S. Co, has served in the House since 2019. He chaired the House committee on appropriations until he resigned in January over “pressing health concerns.”

As one of the principal proponents of the AKAP aid program for the poor, Co had criticized the Office of the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds while touting AKAP’s high utilization rate. His brother, Christopher “Kito” Co, also a former Ako Bicol representative, is running for congressman in Albay’s 2nd district.

Second nominee Alfredo Garbin, a former congressman in the 15th and 17th Congresses, is now mayor of Legazpi City, assuming office after opponent Geraldine Rosal was disqualified in 2022. 

Ako Bicol dominated the 2022 party list vote in Albay and Camarines Norte, and placed second in Camarines Sur.

ASENSO PINOY

Leading the list of nominees for Asenso Pinoy party list group is Henry Fuentes Oaminal Jr., the mayor of Ozamiz City and son of Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal—a key political figure in the region. Fifth nominee Rowe Sevilla Oaminal is the governor’s brother. Mayor Samuel Lagat Parojinog of Tudela town is third nominee.

AKO BISAYA

AKO BISAYA, a party list group based in Central Visayas, promises to represent the interests of Bisaya-speaking communities with focus on regional development. Its top nominees reveal deep ties to Cebu’s most powerful political clans.

First nominee and current representative Sonny Lagon is married to Daphne Lagon, the sitting congresswoman for Cebu’s 6th District. Second nominee Carissa Garcia is the daughter of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, whose family has long dominated Cebu politics. These dynastic connections appear to have bolstered the party list group’s electoral performance. It garnered 313,926 votes in Cebu province alone in the 2022 elections.

Other party list groups with a chance to win at least one seat are also tied to dynasties.

They include FPJ Panday Bayanihan, which is led by Brian Poe-Llamanzares, son of outgoing Sen. Grace Poe.

The party list group also nominated members of political dynasties. The senator’s husband, Teodoro, is fourth nominee. Second nominee, Mark Lester Patron, is son of Mayor Ben Patron of San Jose, Batangas. Mark Lester’s wife Irene is seventh nominee. Third nominee Hiyas Dolor is wife of incumbent Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor.

The second nominee of Bicol Saro party list group, Lara Maria Villafuerte, is the wife of gubernatorial candidate Rep. LRay Villafuerte. Their son Julio Mari is third nominee. 

The husband of One Coop party list group’s first nominee, Maria Kristina Glepa, is the mayor of Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur.

The first nominee of Solid North Party, Menchie Bernos, is the current district representative of Abra’s lone district. Her husband, Mayor Joseph Bernos of La Paz, Abra, will run to replace her seat in the House.

The second nominee of Solid North, Lucia Ortega-Valero, is a councilor in San Fernando City, La Union, and a member of the Ortega dynasty. 

Meanwhile, Bro. Eddie Villanueva leads the nominees of Cibac party list group. He is the father of Sen. Joel Villanueva. — PCIJ.org