Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
First we need to define the term "Left". The Left is that part of the political spectrum that seeks more aggressive federal government intervention in the caretaking of citizens. The right is that part of the political spectrum that believes local governments, or private interests, should be empowered to care for citizens.
In the Philippine context, we can distinguish the two political forces as "The People" and "The Dynasts".
The Liberal Party is a leftist party. Pinks are a leftist independent initiative. They are strongly center left. The more traditional leftest parties are the center-left Akbayan, the firmly left Makabayan, and the extreme left (designated terrorist) Communist Party.
The Duterte and Marcos/Romualdez families are the two most powerful dynastic families in the Philippines today. A number of other families, notably the Arroyos and Villars, have subordinated their interests to these top dynasties.
Three striking developments have taken place lately that have thrust the Left into the driver's seat of political opposition to the dynasts.
- The Duterte dynasty is being taken down by criminal and legislative investigations. The Dutertes had maintained that they were the "opposition" to the current Marcos government.
- Makbayan has announced it will field a slate of 10 or 12 candidates for senate in 2025, giving them the strongest organized push to replace the dynasts now holding Senate seats.
- Notable attorney Chel Diokno has joined the Akbayan Party which is anchored by true opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros. In 2022, Diokno was a member of both the Robredo independent movement and leftist Leody de Guzman's party.
The Liberal Party, now headed by former senator Leila de Lima, and the Pink independent movement that almost got Leni Robredo elected, seem not to have the strength to launch material initiatives for 2025. But they remain substantial as "peoples parties", small "p".
If we put all this together, we see a Left rising and one dynasty collapsing.
The Left could rise dramatically if the Yellows and Pinks joined and empowered them, say by hopping aboard Akbayan, seeking slots on their senate slate. Then Makabayan and Akbayan, if they were smart, which is 50/50 in my book, could join efforts and we'd have the Super People's Party that is the easiest path to breaking the dynasties. I've written about it here ("You don't need an anti-dynasty law to break the dynasties"). The hardest path is getting dynasts to pass an anti-dynasty law.
The second hardest path is to avoid tearing one another down. The big challenge is for Yellows, Pinks, and Left not to be territorial dynasts themselves, more consumed by their righteousness purity than how to build a left-leaning empire.
The Left can help achieve harmony by ditching two positions that are unpopular both among citizens an other political parties: (1) support for armed rebels, and (2) opposition to the US EDCA initiative/alliance. This centering of their position would make it easier, or even be the reason, for Yellows and Pinks to slip into a center-left political initiative. It already helps that the Left is not seen as elitist, and is more relatable as a peoples' party.
Imagine 10 or 20 partners to Representative Castro and Senator Hontiveros aggressively pursuing peoples' interests in 2025. Or 300 in 2028.
The dynasties would be broken. It is within reach.
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Cover photograph from DZRH article "Chel Diokno joins Akbayan Party".
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