ALTERNATIVE opposition candidates hailed the recently concluded campaign as a triumph of focusing the spotlight on damage that political dynasties have wreaked on the country.
Labor leader and Senate hopeful Leody de Guzman and Makabayan Bloc’s Teddy Casiño said majority of Filipino voters, particularly students and young professionals, have been made aware that the stranglehold of powerful political families in the national and local electoral posts is the major cause of corruption and violence.
“To the `trapos’ (traditional politicians) behind dynasties and the oligarchs who bankroll them, be warned. The 2025 elections pushed political dynasties and their abuses to the front and center of the campaign. You can no longer turn the tide. We will continue to multiply and the fight will grow bigger from here on,” De Guzman said in his closing message to end of the campaign.
“Tandaan, walang forever sa pwesto, baka kayo naman ang sumunod sa The Hague (Remember, there is no forever when it comes to positions. You could be the next to go to The Hague),” he said by way of a parting shot.
He was referring to the father of Vice President Sara Duterte, former president Rodrigo Duterte who is now in the Netherlands facing trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. The vice president is said to be eyeing the presidency.
For Casiño, the message of what could be is as important, if not more so, than the subject of what was wrong in perpetuating the rotten system of handing down political power to family members for several generations.
“We shook the foundations of the political structure. We proved during this campaign that the real fight is not between the Duterte and Marcos factions but between them and the Filipino masses. We showed that the clash between the Marcoses and the Dutertes is nothing but a showdown between the most corrupt and the most violent political dynasties and bureaucrats in our country’s history,” he said during the Makabayan “miting de avance” Friday night.
He said majority of the people now understand that genuine reform and inclusive progress cannot happen while political dynasty holds the government reins to protect their own interests.
“We showed not only what is wrong but also what could be and what we deserve as a people. That we can pick candidates who are not corrupt and who do not simply inherit the seat of power but are deserving of it. That there are leaders who come from the ranks of ordinary people and are capable of working for them,” Casiño added.
De Guzman acknowledged that campaigning against powerful and well-funded political parties has been an uphill battle for the alternative opposition and independent candidates from the very start.
That he and fellow Partido Lakas ng Masa bet Luke Espiritu were able to visit multiple provinces and regions at all on a shoe-string campaign was testament to the heart of their supporters, he said.
“To end this 2025 campaign, I am saying a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, donors, leaders, organizers, and allies in the workers’ movements from all over from Baguio to Zamboanga for their will to push through to spread our message to as many of our countrymen as time and human effort can allow,” he said.
To the Filipino electorate, he appealed for a conscience vote.
“Ask yourself if your list of candidates is the kind you would be proud to tell your kids about. Because, in the end, it is you who are betting their future on the sort of leaders you will pick on Election Day,” he said.
