We prefer to refer to it as patronage, although the Americans have aptly labeled it as the spoils system, as famously quoted by Andrew Jackson: “to the victors belong the spoils.” If ideology serves as the mental bond of a political party, then the spoils system is the tangible expression of party loyalty. It involves climbing the ranks within a party, with the hope that if and when the party emerges victorious, its leaders will reward those who have supported them. Unfortunately, our history demonstrates that unintended consequences often accompany so-called democratic reforms. In this case, one of the consequences has been the elimination of practical incentives for party loyalty and cohesion beyond a select few.
For instance, the one-term presidency encourages national politicians to simply wait for the results of a presidential contest to identify the winner and swiftly align themselves with the new majority, which is often identical to the old majority, apart from a few who failed to transition from the losing side. The move towards electing senators nationwide, which was necessary, severed their connection to bloc voting. As a result, selection and election of senators now heavily rely on celebrity status and financial resources, as political parties have lost their influence in the process. Furthermore, the decision to make the barangay nonpolitical has severely limited party participation and growth, leaving our national parties lacking grassroots support while local and regional parties have limited influence beyond their own territories.
The landslide victory of the President in the 2022 election highlighted the diminishing significance of national parties in fulfilling their intended functions. The President’s chosen party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, was not only small but also practically insignificant. However, this did not seem to matter, as nearly half of its membership vanished in the wave of coalition cannibalism that engulfed the President’s first executive secretary. Lakas-CMD emerged as the dominant force in the coalition following a leadership reshuffle, while the President remained detached from the situation, and his official party remained nothing more than a political accessory.
Recently, a new party called Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) was launched, which Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez revealed to be the brainchild of the President. The party’s name, “kilusan” or movement, draws inspiration from Marcos Sr., who introduced the concept of an “aggrupation” to supplant existing parties during his time, inspired by the Kalibapi (Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas) of the Japanese occupation. Gomez even hinted that the tiny representation of the Partido Federal in the House eagerly awaits the formal approval of the KNP by the Commission on Elections, as they plan to abandon their small raft and join the promising giant super ferry this new party represents.
However, a quirky twist unfolded last Friday. Reports suggest that the President inducted the first batch of new recruits into the Partido Federal, followed by another batch the next day, led by party leaders. Upon examining the names mentioned, it becomes evident that the recruits, including Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Dulce Anne Hofer, and Batanes Gov. Malou Cayco, originate from local politics. Jubahib and Hofer have defected from PDP-Laban, indicating a departure from the Duterte camp, while Cayco is a former member of the Liberal Party. If Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez’s prediction proves accurate, these recruits may follow Rufus Rodriguez’s example.
In our history of national elections since 1935, we have always been inclined towards building coalitions. However, these coalitions are not formed by parties but rather by factions put together by political impresarios, seeking a bankable star. Although coming into power with the support of a relatively small group grants presidents the ability to reward their insiders, they are immediately burdened with an oversized and permanent majority that depletes resources and prevents real progress. This creates an illusion of activity while our country falls behind in nearly all aspects of national success, except perhaps short-term profits.
Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @mlq3
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