The internal power struggles of a party built on federalism

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from supporters of Rodrigo Duterte, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) was designed to overhaul the Philippine government into a federalist system. Yet, behind its goal of national restructuring lies a complex history of leadership disputes and factional rivalries that nearly derailed its path to the presidency.

Following the early 2018 creation by Rodrigo Duterte's followers—comprising ex-PDP-Laban members—the PFP gained national political party status on 5 November, 2018. Its core ideological pillar is federalism, aiming to replace the Philippines' current unitary system of government with a decentralized model. The party identifies its principles as humanism, patriotic federalism, enlightened socialism, and direct democracy.

The party’s leadership has been marked by significant legal and internal friction. In late 2021, a major dispute erupted when Abubakar Mangelen claimed to be the rightful chairman, accusing Bongbong Marcos of being nominated 'invalidly' without consulting party officers. This led to multiple disqualification cases filed with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). While the COMELEC dismissed these challenges in early 2022 for "lack of merit," a secondary leadership dispute emerged in 2023 regarding whether certain officials' tenures had expired under the 2018 constitution.

The Supreme Court eventually intervened in this internal turmoil, ruling on August 22, 2025, in favor of the faction led by Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., citing the validity of a 2022 constitutional update. Despite these fractures, the PFP played a central role in the 2022 elections as part of the UniTeam alliance, which saw Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte elected to the presidency and vice presidency respectively—the first time both were elected by a majority under the 1987 Constitution.

As of September 2024, the PFP claims a membership of approximately 1.5 million people nationwide. While political scientists like Julio C. Teehankee classify it as a neo-authoritarian party spawned during the Duterte era, its leadership continues to frame the organization as a grassroots movement for the poor, seeking a society free from corruption and poverty.

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