Political Butterflies at Midterm Exodus: A Critical Evaluation on the Issue of

Turncoatism by Political Parties in the Philippine Government

A term paper

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the course

PoliScie 201- Fundamentals of Political Science

Cacho, Marian

Inchoco, Patricia

Maestrado, Liana Nicole

BA Political Science I

Mark Bon G. Basadre

Instructor

Father Saturnino Urios University

Introduction and Objectives

The Philippines has a multiparty system in which it offers the citizens

of the country to vote in a wider range of choices. Through practicing an

elective political system in which everyone is involved and has the

opportunity to use their power and right to suffrage. We have electoral

system and has a regulations and rules to abide to in order for clean,

credible and honest electoral exercises that empowers the citizens to select

a well-deserve leader.

According to Philips Shively (2014), this leader has its political party or

the organization of officials or aspiring people wants to lead and serve in the

public office and linked with a group of citizen that could help them to attain

or maintain in power. This group of officials has its principles and political

beliefs wherein they have a chief aim to influence the policy and have the

power in the government and it is based on their political ideology. The

Philippines has well-known political parties namely are the Liberal Party

(LP) , Philippine Democratic Party- People’s Power (PDP-LABAN), Nationalist

Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and other more major parties

that their member officials have attained seats in the public office.
 Members of the political parties do solemnly swear for their loyalty

and probity for the principles and political beliefs of their parties. The pledge

of allegiance can be breakable if a member of a certain political party turns

against its ideology and changes its party.

Butterflies' wings are beautiful because of their striking color and

patterns and as they fly to a flower to gather nectar, it changes its color and

pattern. However, as we relate this in politics it is a pejorative term wherein

defines as political butterflies, when a member of the political party changes

its party. As these derogatorily called traditional politicians (TraPo) or dirty

rags who has been corrupt and become a factor that made the Philippines as

a oligarchic state or the power has attain by the few and elites. Moreover,

this pejorative term known as turncoatism weakens the political party

system, particularly in the Philippines. The Philippines has wishy-washy

political parties. (Quimpo,2007)

Switching alliances is no good for the country wherein most of the

politicians particularly the traditional politicians who hop party to party as

they change their political beliefs as well. According to Julio Teehankee, the

political party system has been abused thus committing the practice of

political turncoatism as a normal behavior. Because of that party system

reform and there are bill that has been propose by the senators and

representatives who are against with switching party or turncoatism. These

interest to win in the elections and attain power in the government.

The problem with turncoatism is the citizen of the country are

confused about who political party they will support especially if there is a

certain politician that they supported that flits to another party. Turncoatism

became rampant in the country because of that the researchers came up

with the study of how we could develop the political party system and the

democratization in the country even though turncoatism was been allowed in

the Philippines. This study can help the researchers to know and further

discover political parties turncoatism based on the reliable facts and data

that they gather through their journey in search for the truth and analysis

prior to this issue.

Objectives

This term paperwork focuses on the institutional and legal context

within which political parties operate and address the issue of turncoatism,

which is very rampant and is obscuring the Philippine political party system.

It can be described as constraining, limiting and even detrimental to the

development and strengthening of political parties. With this in mind, the

paper has the following objectives:

parties in the Philippine government, politics, and society in further

understanding the current system (or the institutional-legal context within

which parties operate) and explain the behaviors that the system elicits

given its characteristics and features.

2. To identify how turncoatism affects the following:

2.1 The Philippine government

2.2 politics

2.3 society

3. To be able to provide a feasible point of reference for party reform

measures.
 Chapter II

Discussion and Analysis

Turncoatism is especially present and seen during election days, where

the people power the phenomenon and issue-stance in the voting behaviors

of the politicians. As if considered a part of the Filipino political culture and

the changing of political parties from one party member to another has

nothing but a common happening that exists in the political dynamics of the

Philippines. However, it does not only delay the development and maturity of

political parties but also leaves the political and societal environment with

nothing but promises and considers the politics, not as a representative of

the Filipino people but to take advantage of the situations for their good.

What about the party organizations? Party Recruitment? And party

membership, education, and training of its members? All of these are

basically non-existent or merely done or produced as a matter of form as

political parties become expiring as soon as elections are finished. They

would only come back to life when elections come back to the picture again.

There is no opportunity for serious and active recruitment of younger

members who would grow into the organization. Whatever passes the

continuing education and training of their members are far between and
half-hearted at best. Needless to say, there is a need for several approaches

to change the way the parties behave by changing the landscape in which

they operate within the short to medium term. So how do we stop political

turncoatism and what is to be done? Party loyalty can give rise by making

the political career of the politician linked to his party membership or party

identification. The political party must be the only escape and support of the

party member so that his approach in politics must rely on the decisions

made by his party leader, which also has a link with party finances.

Historical Background

History shapes the present and today. Filipino society and culture have

fairly developed and influences after the colonization of Spain, the United

States and Japan in the Philippines. Moreover, through tracing back, the past

based on archaeological facts and evidence gathered by historians, the

researches able to determine the background on the political history of

political parties in the Philippine government, politics, and society. Based on

the political culture wherein we can identify and explain the behaviors that

the system elicits given its characteristics and features that are controversial

and the problem of the party system.

Historians believe the Philippines dates back to the Paleolithic age.

During the Paleolithic age, there is a small portion of the population and

there was no need for rules and laws or a political leader will command to
discipline and regulate the behaviors of the inhabitants in the Philippines

other than matriarchal or patriarchal authority which nature has provided.

(Tan, 2009) Later on, the Philippines has been woken in governance after it

was once introduced in 1971. Based on the historical data provided by the

Philippine Consulate General (2014), “Ferdinand Magellan came to the

Philippines on March 16, 1521, and claimed the country for the Spanish

Crown. Spain introduced changes in the political, social, and cultural life of

the Filipino people. A colonial government was established in Manila in

1571.”

Colonialism has shaped the culture of the Philippines and even the

behavior of the people. The Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese came in the

country and trying to subdue our territories but most of the Filipinos have

fought back and revolved to raise what is right and to attain freedom for the

country. During the American Regime, they educate and molded the

leadership of the Filipinos to become the future leader and statesmen of the

country. According to the journal of Napoleon Casambre (1982), “the

introduction of the American system of education has an influence on the life

and culture of the Filipino during and after the colonial period especially in

state-building and other political aspects that it is generally regarded as the

"greatest contribution" of American colonialism in the Philippines.”

History tells us that even though we had national heroes who fought

for the triumph of our nation and have loyalty and devoted even he or she
will sacrifice his/her own life because of love for the nation. These historical

events marked and embedded in the hearts of the Filipino people to stand

what is right and has the essence of patriotism. However, there are still

traitors and two-faced political actors wanted to attain power for personal

interest nor benefits. There is literature that discusses politics concerning a

culture that may be helpful in the explanation and analysis in discerning the

root of turncoatism. Based on the study of Yazhmin Malajito (2018), Felipe

Buencamino could be considered as a threat and a traitor because he was

once known for being a Filipino muchas caras (person with two-sided face)

because he was suspected to be a spy and a traitor to the Filipino people. He

was a lawyer and become the cabinet member of Aguinaldo but then he

sided with the Spanish but he came back and joined the Filipino camp after

being arrested by the conquistadors and he switched sides again with the

Americans. There are accounts that Buencamino was once among those who

are lobbying for the acceptance of the American colonial regime in our

country. Even Gen. Antonio Luna once whacked him on the face because

Buencamino is going to propose a negotiation with the Americans because

he is in favor of the proposed autonomy of the Americans. This historical

account has been a realization that it would be an ill and hindrance to one’s

country development to have two-sided members or switching allegiance

because the legitimacy and accountability of the political butterflies could be

questioned by the voters.

greatest turncoat or “balimbing” in Philippine history wherein balimbing

refers to a carambola fruit because it has many sides it becomes a slang to

the country. It refers to the persons who switch or change sides. Why does

Historian Ambeth Ocampo say that Pedro Paterno is a turncoat? The

“original” turncoat, according to Ocampo, was “first on the Spanish side and

then wormed his way to power to become President of Malolos Convention in

1899.”

There are factors nor reasons of the turncoats and traitors switch sides

because if they can get benefits from it like what Pedro Patterno after the

signing of the pact of Biak na bato which is a peace pact to end the

Philippine revolution and he serves as a mediator between the two states.

He requested the dukedom, a seat in the Spanish Senate and a million bucks

as a reward however, his request is not granted by the governor-general.

During the American occupation, he was captured then he swore allegiance

to the Americans and became one of the prominent Filipinos who take the

American side. (Malajito, 2018) This made Pedro Paterno as an infamous

turncoat of the country as long as he could be benefitted he can switch

allegiances repeatedly.

After the American Colonial Regime, the first political party in the

country was established in 1900 under the auspice of American colonial and

it is the Federal Party which advocates federalism. (De Guzman, 2018) After
World War II dated 1945, there is a striking competition on the two arising

political parties in elections in the country, which is the Nacionalista Party,

and the Liberal Party. Nacionalista Party is a political party that has the

political belief of nationalism embedded in their principles and works

ensuring the greatest good of all the people and it is the ruling party in 1946

during Quezon and Osmena’s administration. On the other hand, the Liberal

Party founded by Manuel Roxas and the other two in 1946. It has a political

belief of liberalism or center in the political spectrum. It has its goals for the

country to serve and gives the importance of freedom, justice, and

solidarity. Post-war President Manuel Roxas has been a party member of

Nacionalista before 1945 and later in 1946, he founded the liberal party

serves as a breaking liberal wing of the Nacionalista Party. During the

elections of 1961, the ruling party is the Liberal because of that there are

Nacionalista party members switch allegiances and joined the Liberal Party.

These became rampant and common up until today. Politicians are eager to

take sides in the ruling party or who has the party that attained government

power. (Lande, 1967)

How turncoats affect the Philippine government? Is it a threat or a

concern that we must prohibit? As a democratic state, it is important to

strengthen the political party system for the good for the people. Most of the

countries condemned turncoats but in our country, there is rampant-party

switching. They know that it will be obscuring and destabilized the

he will gain more advantage in many ways because there are no limits linked

to him changing his party. The consequences for party accountability and

responsibility are crucial to any democracy, where the politician under the

party cannot be accountable for the promises he made on behalf of his

party. Then democracy is seriously weakened.

Anti-Turncoatism Bill

There are political party reform bills which failed to be legislated upon

congress and which needs to pass soon, the Political Party Reform Bill that

Senator Franklin Drilon files to strengthen Political Parties and to penalize

and the senate no. 1663. Moreover, it has been introduced by the late

Merriam Santiago, which is the senate bill no. 1633 in the 14th Congress.

She tends to catch these butterflies and penalize them in its bill called the

Anti-Political Turncoatism Act. This was inspired by the belief that penalizing

these butterflies can restore belief and strengthen the political party system

in the Philippines. The Anti-Political Turncoatism Act is an act defining and

punishing political turncoatism, which is why no one in the history of

Philippine political parties has been made to pay for changing their party

color. It may specify is a better accounting of party funds as well as

matching government support for the recognized political parties and that is

also one way of limiting election expenses during a campaign which would

be a major source of corruption later.

proposes in the 13th Congress, it is an act that prohibiting political

turncoatism and providing penalties for violation thereof. There are

composed penalties wherein a political actor who has found guilty of political

turncoatism cannot and disqualified to run in any elective position. Besides,

if he has already been elected he shall not be assumed to office. There are

also exceptions wherein this act cannot be applicable nor applied to

independent candidates.

Based on the proposed House Bill No. 1695 by Maximo B. Rodriguez

(2016), Political turncoatism is a change of political party affiliation by a

party member one year before or after the national elections. Any party

member can change legitimately change their political party affiliation only a

second year of a three-year term.

The researchers have collected data from the books, journals and

reliable and liable websites and it has been cited well. The researchers of

this term paper have followed ethical and political considerations during the

making of the critical evaluation of the issue in political turncoatism.

Moreover, the scope of their study about the issue of turncoatism in political

parties is only about political parties in the Philippines. Upon reading the

collected data, this phenomenon is considered as natural as its existence in

the Philippines and up to date, there are no clear-cut reforms that have been
concluded to combat the ailment. The study is socially relevant to the

Philippines for it may finally better the political arena in the country.

Therefore, this paper provides an analysis that deemed important to

educate the society of the nature of turncoatism, which makes

ineffectiveness, if not paralyzes many of the country’s policies and

programs. Politicians who have switch parties are referred to turncoats but it

is not healthy to swear allegiance to other opposing parties, it is keeping the

country to develop in the government system. As history tells us that

traitors or turncoats who switch allegiances are the bane of the national

heroes to attain freedom and justice that our motherland deserves to have.

It is because of their selfishness and they did not even care for the country’s

development but they only care for what they can gain after they can attain

power in the government. These politicians have been corrupt and it will

affect not only the economic development but they are the ones who are

depriving the marginalized sectors to attain prosperity and development in

their life. How can we eradicate mass poverty and other national concerns

even the political party system has been obscured and weakened in its

characteristics and features. The consequences for party accountability and

responsibility are crucial to any democracy, where the politician under the

party cannot be accountable for the promises he made on behalf of his

party. 
 Chapter III

Conclusions and Recommendations

In this paper, the researchers had demonstrated and to mainly focus

on the troublesome political party which is turncoatism as it is embodied in

the Philippines’ party system. The researchers first dealt with the composed

objectives by identifying how turncoatism could affect the Philippine

Government, Politics as well as to the society and for the researchers’ to be

able to provide a feasible point of reference for party reform measures.

Apart from these, not nearly but all the literature in the Philippines party

structure leads to the inference that the Philippines indeed has a fragile

political party framework marked by non-ideological strategies and who

practice the essence of Turncoatism. Moreover, the fact that it is completely

obvious that turncoats can be seen and rampant in the Philippines’ political

party structure it will latter to weaken and destabilize the Government of the
Philippines. Moreover, as well as the implementation of Bill Political Party to

seek penalized people who seems to have found guilty for political turncoats

and by that they aim to encourage groups to be united as one and policy

obedience by a discouragement to alter political membership for any political

party member until or when elected or after an election. 

Recommendations

Chasing butterflies is hard and complex as they are the one who

becomes factors and hindrance of the development of the state particularly

the traditional politicians (TraPo) who switch new ruling party even if that

political party has opposing political belief, as long as they win in the

elections and attaining power for private gain not for public good.

Subsequent are the recommendations that the researchers gathered on how

to mitigate and efficiently eliminate turncoats in the Philippines: 

There are proposed bill such Party Reform bill of 2002 or senate bill

no. 2442, it will be a solution not only for addressing the political

turncoatism but to address all political party concerns such as party fiancé

and campaign contribution that weakens the political party system.

Immediate passage of the bill serves a great help.  Political party must

require to have a merit system in selecting and nominating their members in

order to test their professionalism and their probity in serving in the public

office. Moreover, it promotes the loyalty and accountability of the party

in the party as well as the party system in order to minimize the rampant

switching of parties. There are instances that there is hindrance in approving

the bill because not all in both houses approves penalizing butterflies. Sergio

Osmena III, has been reported spoken about the proposed bill penalizing the

butterflies. “Why are you preventing something that is not a crime?” this is

his opinion even if he is an independent and penalizing butterflies has

exceptions on running independent candidates. Based on the

recommendations of Joy Aceron and Glenford Leonillo (2009), a technical

working group shall focuses hasten in pushing the bill. There are different

Party Reform Bill to address solutions for the how we could strengthen the

party system because that there are readings in the Congress going on in

able to examine and determine what reforms are really needed to effect

change in the political system.

Books:

Aceron, J., & Leonillo, G. (2009). Reforming the Philippine Political

Party System. Citizen-Party Linkages in the Philippines: Failure to

Connect?. Retrieved from https://library.fes.de/pdf-

files/bueros/philippinen/07131.pdf

Manacsa, R. C., & Tan, A. C. (2005). Manufacturing Parties: Re-

examining the Transient Nature of Philippine Political Parties. Party

Politics, 11(6), 748–765. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068805057608

Tan, S. (2009). A History of the Philippines. Quezon City, PH: The

University of the Philippines Press. .

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https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/philippinen/07131.pdf

Shively, P. (2014). Power & Choice: An Introduction to Political Science

(Int'l Ed). (14th ed.). US: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc. .

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De Guzman, M. (2018). The Institutional Imperative in Reforming the

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content/uploads/2013/03/KP4.-Primer-1-Building-the-Philippine-

Political-Party-System.pdf

Malajito, Y. (2018). Traitors in the Philippine History who are loyal to

one thing. Retrieved March 21, 2020, from

https://nolisoli.ph/39688/traitors-philippine-history/

Philippine Consulate General. The Philippines: History

https://chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph/the-philippines-history

Quimpo, Nathan. (2007) "Trapo Parties and Corruption."

cpcabrisbane.org/Kasama/2007/V21n1/TrapoPartiesAndCorruption.ht

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Appropriating Funds therefor. Retrieved from

http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_17/HB01695.pdf

Estrada, J. AN ACT PROHIBITING POLITICAL TURNCOATISM AND

PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF Retrieved from

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