MindaNews examines ‘fat,’ ‘obese’ dynasties in Mindanao

CHEERS TO MindaNews for a comprehensive, data-driven report on Mindanao’s political dynasties – the fat, the obese, the growing and the long-surviving. 

The three-part series by Carol Arguillas published on July 11, 13 and 15 looked at the data showing the government posts of members of political families from from 1987 to 2025. The series also traced the formation of several dynastic clans in Mindanao and projected the future of dynasties in the light of the current political climate.

The report referred to the study of Ron Mendoza, dean of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), which categorized political dynasties as “thin” and “fat.” A thin dynasty has family members succeeding each other in a single government position and a fat dynasty has two or more family members simultaneously holding government  posts. Mendoza said a  fat dynasty may become obese. The MindaNews series emphasized that Mindanao dynasties are fat, obese, and “morbidly obese.”

The first part of the series highlighted clans whose members have held one government post for 18 to 38 years including now, naming the Zubiris of Bukidnon, the Romualdos of Camiguin, the Bautistas of Davao Occidental and the Almarios of Davao Oriental. Each clan has occupied the same congressional seat for 38 years. The list includes the Dutertes of Davao who have ruled the city as mayors for 34 years; and the Dimaporos of Lanao Del Norte who have been governors of the province for 33 years.

The second part underscored clans who concurrently hold all top provincial posts including governor, vice governor, representative and mayor: the Romualdos of Camiguin, the Cagas of Davao del Sur, the Bautistas of Davao Occidental, the Adiongs of Lanao del Sur, the Tans of Sulu and the Salis of Tawi-Tawi.   

The third part discussed how some Mindanao dynasties proliferated, the dark side of dynasties, and some projections on ending dynastic rule. 

Julio Teehankee, professor of Political Science and International Studies at  Dela Salle University, said in the report that the problem of political dynasties in the country has no end “unless we address its systemic and structural roots.” 

Antonio La Viña, former ASoG Dean, shared the same sentiments, pointing out how  the  anti-dynasty provision in the Constitution is impossible to fulfill given the present composition of  Congress; he added that political movements at the grassroots need to reorganize and present alternatives to political dynasties.

MindaNews’  data deepened the discourse on the lack of development that would genuinely improve the lives of the people of Mindanao. The dynastic plague in the South demonstrates how much dynastic rule has been an endemic political disease in the region. 

This year, online news sites reported on the subject during the campaign period up to a few weeks after the May 9 elections (February 9 to May 20). Rappler had separate reports on the Espinos of Pangasinan, the Zubiris of Bukidnon, the Pinedas of Pampanga, the Benitez of Bacolod, the  Revillas of Cavite. Inquirer.net also reported on the old and new dynasties in Mindanao after the May 9 elections. 

The issue has been revisited only periodically. And the problem remains unaddressed as dynasties continue to grow with every election. 

Media should adjust the lens of their coverage, reporting regional and local news, in the context of dynastic politics and the clans’  connections with business and other economic interests. This kind of coverage may help locals track and assess their progress, or the lack thereof, in the hands of political families.