Philippine Political Framework
As it was more than a hundred years ago, during the American occupation, Philippine politics is still dominated by a handful of elite families. Due to weakness of our state institutions, political elites were able to take advantage and use their power to serve their own interests. The four post-Martial Law presidencies have all been haunted and the same time played important roles in the promulgation of elite politics that didn’t help improve the political maturity of the Philippines. This is most glaring in the past administration of former President Gloria Arroyo, wherein she willingly cooperates with the political elites in an effort to preserve her presidency. Families like the Singsons, Duranos and the controversial Ampatuans were a familiar sight during the leadership of Arroyo. The provincial base of powers of these elites ensured that Arroyo’s presidency would be assured and sustained despite her unpopularity and the overwhelming call for her resignation. Even our current president, Noynoy Aquino, is a glaring representation of how elites have ruled over our country. Benigno Aquino III comes from a long line of elite families from both his maternal and paternal side. Both of parents where part of a political elite family that have been ruling over our country since the American period. His father Benigno Aquino Jr. was a former Senator whose assassination became one of the reasons for the People Power Revolution. His paternal grandfather was also a Senator during the American period and was one of the politicians that collaborated with the Japanese government during their invasion. Her mother on the other hand was the late former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and was part of the prominent and one of the most powerful political families in the Philippines, the Cojuangco clan that up until now still rules much of the province of Tarlac. If you’re going to look at the politicians that rule