By Marc Juris J. Le Compte | The Red Chronicles
Layout by Jed Paul O. Naval | The Red Chronicles
The 1987 Constitution declares the Philippines a democratic and republican state, where sovereignty resides in the people. But how much of this power do we truly exercise?
Last 2025 National Elections, we, the Filipino masses, have ultimately seen the same names and familial clans taking their seats in various elective offices. While it is exasperating to ponder on the elite’s maintenance and consolidation of powers, this begs a query—who is to blame?
We can blame no one else but us, the society.
As the 2025 National & Local Elections transpired, COMELEC took center stage as we were bombarded with various printed media, rallies, and miting de avances. Being the Constitutional Commission solely having the power to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, it has served show-cause orders to local and national candidates, requiring them to explain their suspected involvement in vote-buying or the misuse of social welfare programs during their campaign in an attempt to give teeth to the law.
Senator Camille Villar was among those flagged by COMELEC, while Atty. Christian Sia was disqualified over misogynistic remarks against single mothers. These active stances of the COMELEC shows that there were attempts to enforce the law. But how far can it go if we, the electorate, remain succumbed to our own apathy?
We lament corruption and unqualified leaders, yet the same names had triumphed in the last elections. While a few number of liberal and national democratic oppositionists won the 2025 National Elections bid, some unfit leaders from the same dynastic powers remained in their seats. Indeed, the COMELEC’s role is to hold clean and honest elections, but the voters’ accountability is just as crucial. Sovereignty lies within the people—not just in any commission or any persons of authority.
As the recent electoral behavior and results had reflected, false hope and avoidance of accountability might become our nation’s downfall. Our reliance on governmental power can be best described in the 2015 biopic war film Heneral Luna, where the infamous general uttered, “Para kayong mga birheng naniniwala sa pag-ibig ng isang pu—”
It is ironic how we constantly pin societal ills solely on the fault of the people in the seats of power, when our apathy is also to blame. The burden to dismantle broken systems rests not only on those in power—but also on us. Yes, we can call to arms through responsible voting, electing and organizing. But the crucial question is, have we done enough to thwart the rotten systems of power? Or are we hammering the nails into our own democratic coffin?