The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and a civic group expressed concern over the action of some political clans by fielding their kins as incumbent and opposing candidates in the coming May 2025 midterm elections, leading to the erosion of democratic principles in the country.
“The electoral rights of the public are once again threatened by the blatant disregard for democratic principles by political clans,” according to the civic group Novo Ecijano: Bantay Boto Movement (NE-BBM).
The issue was also raised by the CBCP and poll watchdog Alyansang Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) which protested the action of some politicians to continue to hold grip of power like the politicians in Nueva Ecija.
Caritas Philippines president Bishop Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan and vice president Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos filed a petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), criticizing what they have called a blatant display of ‘political incorporation’ in Nueva Ecija.
The group cited the dynastic struggle in Nueva Ecija where six Umalis are relentlessly pursuing an ambitious agenda to secure political power in Nueva Ecija. Incumbent governor Aurelio Umali is running for re-election with his elder brother Gil Raymond Umali as vice governor.
Patricia Marie Umali, 23, is running against her father, Aurelio, for the gubernatorial race. Umali’s 25-year-old daughter Gabrielle is also running for Congress in the third congressional district against her mother, former Gov. Czarina Umali.
Another Umali, incumbent Nueva Ecija Vice Gov. Emmanuel Anthony Umali, is also seeking the mayoral post of Cabanatuan City.
According to the convenor of NE-BBM, Mr. Ruben Aquino, while family feuds and rivalries are common in Philippine politics, the political landscape in Nueva Ecija is going beyond the usual intra-family squabbles just to secure the top-electoral positions in the province.
He said it is a blatant contrast to the political landscape in other provinces, cities, and towns where family members might be vying for the same position, but not to the extent of fielding their young daughters as insurance candidates.
Aquino said the decision is viewed as “insurance” if and when Governor Umali and his wife Czarina face disqualification from running in the elections due to their ongoing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Umali couple was indicted and recently suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for maliciously issuing 205 quarry permits without the required compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the alleged non-remittance to the local government units of their shares from the taxes collected.
