The Fear of a Dirty Politics in the Philippines

 

The Fear of a Dirty Politics in the Philippines

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleases God our Savior

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Key Points

• Research suggests dirty politics in the Philippines involves corruption, violence, and misinformation, deeply rooted in history and amplified by social media.

• It seems likely that political dynasties and electoral fraud contribute significantly to public fear, with examples like the Marcoses and Ampatuans.

• The evidence leans toward Duterte's presidency exacerbating these issues, with controversial drug war policies and democratic backsliding.

• Efforts to combat dirty politics, such as gun bans and fact-checking, face challenges, highlighting ongoing systemic issues.


Historical Context

Dirty politics in the Philippines has long been characterized by corruption and violence, particularly during elections. Historical data shows significant electoral violence, with 295 deaths in 2004 and 45 in 2010, often linked to political dynasties like the Marcoses and Ampatuans, accused of corruption and violence to maintain power. 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has faced corruption allegations, with the chairman resigning in 2007 amid wiretapped evidence of illegal agreements.

Current Landscape

Today, social media plays a critical role, with disinformation campaigns flooding platforms like Facebook and TikTok, especially ahead of the May 12, 2025, elections. Following Duterte's March 2025 arrest for crimes against humanity, fake accounts spread narratives to discredit the ICC, overwhelming fact-checkers like Vera Files. 

Duterte's presidency (2016–2022) is seen as worsening the situation, with his drug war linked to 6,000–12,000 extrajudicial killings, weakening institutions like the Supreme Court by removing Chief Justice Sereno in 2018.

Public Perception and Efforts

Public fear stems from eroded trust in politics, viewed as greedy and corrupt, with 69% in 2018 seeing Duterte's drug war as a top achievement despite controversy. Efforts like 2010 election gun bans (leading to 2,424 arrests) and fact-checking exist, but systemic issues like dynasty influence persist, making reform challenging.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Fear of Dirty Politics in the Philippines

Introduction

The fear of dirty politics in the Philippines is a complex issue, rooted in historical practices of corruption, violence, and electoral fraud, and amplified by modern challenges like social media manipulation.

This analysis explores the historical context, current dynamics, public perception, efforts to address the problem, and its societal impact, providing a detailed examination for understanding this pervasive concern.

Historical Context and Evolution

Philippine politics has long been tainted by systemic corruption and violence, particularly evident in electoral processes. Historical data reveals significant violence during presidential elections, often fueled by familial politics and private armies. 

For instance

• In 2004, there were 295 deaths and 152 incidents of violence, with similar patterns in 2010, recording 45 deaths and 67 incidents, including a notable ambush by communist insurgents that killed 6 and wounded 12.

• The 2016 elections also saw significant deaths, underscoring the persistent nature of electoral violence.

This violence is often linked to the dominance of political dynasties, where powerful families maintain control through corrupt practices. Examples include the Marcoses in Ilocos Province and the Ampatuans in Maguindanao, with the latter implicated in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, one of the deadliest election-related incidents, killing 58 people. 

The document "Is PH Politics Dirty? Why or Why Not?" argues that Philippine politics is dominated by such families and personalities rather than political parties, with politicians often motivated by selfish interests, leading to "dirty games."

Electoral corruption has also been a persistent issue, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) facing accusations of corruption. Wiretapped conversations in 2007 suggested illegal agreements, leading to the chairman's resignation, highlighting institutional vulnerabilities. 

The case study "Combating electoral corruption and violence in the Philippines" from the Centre For Public Impact details these historical challenges, noting the "familial nature of Philippine politics" as a key factor fueling rivalries and violence.

Current Dynamics

The Role of Social Media and Duterte's Legacy

In recent years, social media has emerged as a significant battleground for dirty politics, particularly with the 2025 elections approaching on May 12. The article "Fake news and dirty politics flood Philippine social media" from Context by TRF highlights how disinformation campaigns exploit political tensions, especially following Duterte's arrest on March 11, 2025, for crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs. 

Fake accounts and trolls on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube have spread false narratives to discredit ICC judges and gain sympathy for Duterte, with coordinated inauthentic behavior undermining platform policies.

Fact-checking efforts, such as those by Vera Files, one of Facebook’s three fact-checking bodies in the Philippines, have been overwhelmed, receiving around 300 tipoffs about misinformation in two weeks post-arrest, above average. 

However, experts like Celine Samson from Vera Files note a concerted effort in spreading false narratives, expecting politicized disinformation to worsen as elections near. Marlon Nombrado from the Out of The Box Media Literacy Initiative highlights that fact-checking struggles to change minds, with people reportedly not caring about facts, indicating a challenge in countering misinformation.

Duterte's presidency (2016–2022), as assessed in "Philippine Politics Under Duterte: A Midterm Assessment" by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, significantly shaped this landscape. His "war on drugs," involving Oplan Double Barrel and Oplan Tokhang, resulted in an estimated 6,000–12,000 extrajudicial killings (EJKs), damaging the rule of law and PNP professionalism. 

Public satisfaction was initially high (85% in December 2016) but dropped to 78% by June 2018, reflecting controversy. Duterte's methods, including intimidating opponents like Senator Leila de Lima (arrested in 2017) and removing Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in May 2018, weakened democratic institutions, contributing to fears of authoritarian regression.

Public Perception and Societal Impact
The public perception of politics in the Philippines is overwhelmingly negative, as noted in "Dirty politics | The Manila Times," where it is seen as a world of "unbridled ambition and unrestrained greed," contrary to the ideal of public service. This perception is reinforced by historical corruption, electoral violence, and modern disinformation. 

A 2018 Pulse Asia survey found 69% viewed Duterte's drug war as his top accomplishment, indicating complex public support despite human rights concerns, while softening support for democracy (from 54% in 2010 to 27% in 2014, per Asian Barometer) reflects growing disillusionment.

The fear of dirty politics erodes trust in institutions, as highlighted in a House hearing on April 8, 2025, chaired by Johnny Pimentel, addressing social media's role in spreading myths and undermining trust.

This fear manifests in societal instability, with potential for increased political violence, especially during elections, and a climate where power is seen as a tool for personal gain rather than public service.
Efforts to Combat Dirty Politics

Efforts to address electoral corruption and violence have included significant measures, particularly during the 2010 elections, as detailed in the case study from the Centre For Public Impact. 

These included

• A total gun ban, restrictions on security personnel, and deployment of national police as guards.

• Establishment of Joint Security Control Centres (JSCCs) for coordination, leading to 2,424 arrests and the discovery of 2,113 firearms at checkpoints.

Fact-checking initiatives, such as those by Vera Files, work with tech companies like Meta, which collaborates with fact-checking bodies in over 60 languages. 

However, Meta faces challenges with its 3.2 billion users, with potential policy changes like ending U.S. fact-checking programs possibly affecting global efforts, per the Reuters Institute (Reuters Institute). 

Despite these efforts, systemic issues like the influence of political dynasties and institutional corruption, such as Comelec's historical challenges, persist, limiting effectiveness.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The fear of dirty politics in the Philippines is a multifaceted issue, rooted in historical corruption and violence, exacerbated by social media manipulation and authoritarian leadership under figures like Duterte.

Political dynasties, electoral fraud, and the erosion of democratic institutions create a political environment where power is often pursued through unethical means. While measures like gun bans and fact-checking exist, they have not fully addressed systemic problems, requiring comprehensive reforms to restore trust and move towards a politics of public service. 

Future research should focus on strengthening institutions, reducing dynasty influence, and enhancing digital literacy to combat misinformation, ensuring a more transparent and democratic political process.

Key Citations

• Centre For Public Impact case study on safeguarding elections in Philippines

• Context by TRF on fake news and dirty politics in Philippine social media

• Carnegie Endowment assessment of Philippine politics under Duterte

• Scribd document on whether PH politics is dirty

• Reuters Institute on global fact-checkers' fears

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