Election season begins: reports fail to provide candidates’ performance records

WITH THE filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on October 1, 2024, the 2025 midterm election season is in full swing. The COC filing is the initial step taken by candidates to officially set their bid to run for public office in 2025. The usual media frenzy marks the event with reporters trooping to the designated Commission on Elections sites to track political aspirants. 

Reports, however, have so far left out crucial information to evaluate the candidates: the track record and political background of leading candidates. 

Media did not point out how the President Marcos Jr.’s senatorial slate are former government officials or incumbents still holding office: Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.; Makati Mayor Abby Binay; Representatives Camille Villar and Erwin Tulfo; Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino. Former senators include Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, and Vicente Sotto III. Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, was announced as a member of the administration lineup but she later declared herself running as an independent candidate. There was little attempt to draw out the dynastic ties connecting various candidates. 

In his 2023 State of the Nation Address, Marcos cited an “enormous pool” of government servants as a “source of great hope and optimism.” But his own picks for the senate appear to be drawn from a shallow bank of officials who are still holding office and wanting to stay longer. 

Presenting them without this context, media also failed to examine their record of performance, the advocacies pursued or bills filed or amended all in line with providing more and better public service.

New alliance, old politicians 

President Marcos revealed his lineup of 12 politicians on September 26, 2024 at a political event dubbed grandly as “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas Convention.” The lineup held no surprises, featuring politicians from political clans culled from five different political parties. Media failed to note this background which reflects the reality of Philippine politics. Even after the People Power events of 1986, national elections have not veered away from the established political alliances, with little effort to draw new blood into politics. 

Indeed, elections have inspired politicians who share a vision of leadership committed to transformation and change. Pragmatism rules, depending on well-known names, never mind the need for shared goals that could make a difference. 

For example: The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for the New Philippines) coalition brings together House Speaker Romualdez’ Lakas-CMD, the President’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the Villar family’s Nacionalista Party, Sotto’s Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the National Unity Party.

Without media’s reference to the record of public service, media become complicit with the practice of voting those whose names have long been established in the political field and are all “top of the mind.” Once a politician establishes name recall, voters do not seem to ask for any more to keep them in office.

The candidacies of Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, and Francis Tolentino (incumbent senators) and Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente Sotto III (former senators) were reported without any meaningful background information on the re-electionist senators’ track record or political engagement in their respective most recent terms of office. 

Reports relied on what the politicians had to say about themselves, glossing over controversial issues in which they were involved; including graft charges involving some candidates. There was no mention of the positions that candidates had taken on drug war killings that the International Criminal Court has resolved to investigate, or on progressive proposals such as the reproductive health law, and the divorce and SOGIE Equality bills.

Few news accounts calling out dynastic, “trapo” politics

ANC’s Karmina Constantino’s interview of Tobias Tiangco, campaign manager of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition on September 27, 2024, had set itself apart. The day after the president announced his senatorial selection, Constantino asked Tiangco to comment on the contradiction between the coalition’s name and the slate showing mostly re-electionists, most of whom are also members of political dynasties. Tiangco defended the lineup, saying the slate reflected not political dynasties and trapos (traditional politicians) but as a lineup of experienced, veteran politicians and public servants. Constantino then asked Tiangco to recall some accomplishments of the lineup, which left Tiangco with little say.

A MindaNews report collected the shared hope expressed by ordinary people who wanted more “non-trapos” to consider for their vote in the midterm polls. The report captured the sentiments of ordinary Davao citizens who wished for leaders who know about the plight of the public, the day-to-day experience of the people. As quoted, one said: “I want a leader who has a strong sense of empathy and isn’t afraid to come down from their ivory tower. . .”

Vloggers, actors, oddities

Media reports were quick to note the number of social media personalities who filed their COCs as first-timers; including vloggers, actors, a street vendor, and ordinary people whose unconventional claims and campaign promises added humor to the report.  

Calling attention to new faces and names, even improbable ones, presents elections as a practice that welcomes newcomers, and not for elites-only. Indeed, campaign and election reports should place the ordinary citizen, the voter, at the center of the event. 

Extracting analysis

Media reports played out how midterm elections serve as a kind of referendum on the incumbent president, his administration, and policies.

Manila Times columnist John Lesaca explained: “Since these elections occur halfway through the incumbent president’s term, they serve as a barometer of public satisfaction with the current administration. The results can either reinforce the presidential mandate if allies gain more seats or challenge the administration’s policies if the opposition gains ground.” 

Rappler noted that this midterm vote is “seen not just as a referendum on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s policies, but also as a test of the popularity of the Duterte family.” 

BusinessWorld predicted the 2025 polls could become “a bitter proxy battle between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his firebrand predecessor Rodrigo R. Duterte.” 

Media should strive to analyze developments in the run up to the 2025 elections. Consulting expert sources or drawing on extensive newsroom experience, journalists can enrich coverage with greater political context. Background information helps voters to evaluate those seeking public office and make the best choice in 2025.