In Luzon, there are the Marcoses, the Macapagal-Arroyos, the Revillas, the Singsons, the Abads, the Angaras, and the Ortegas of La Union that is said to be the biggest political dynasty in the region.
In the Visayas and Mindanao, the Petilla, Romualdez, Apostol, Codilla, Loreto-Cari, Mercado and Espina families keep a stronghold of government seats in Leyte all the way to Biliran Islands. All these families combined though cannot match the Ampatuans of Mindanao who have more than 40 of its family members occupying different seats of power. They are followed by the Magundadatu who currently has 13 posts.
With all these political dynasties, does Article II Section 26 of the Constitution still serve its purpose of forbidding political families to reign over a territory for a long time? How will the new generation of leaders be able to get their chance to serve if clans continue to rule the land?
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