Philippines struggles with corruption, electoral fraud, political dynasties

The Philippines faces three major challenges: corruption, electoral fraud, and political dynasties. Corruption remains widespread, with the country ranking poorly on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, averaging 34 points over the last two decades. Electoral fraud has persisted since the 1950s, with concerns about the integrity of the fully computerized election process. Experts suggest a hybrid system of manual counting and electronic canvassing to improve transparency. Political dynasties dominate government positions, with a study showing that two-thirds to three-fourths of key roles are held by these families. Despite a constitutional ban on political dynasties, no legislation has been passed to define or limit their influence.