Put AI in brains of dynastic senators, celebrities – senatorial bet Espiritu
Senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu speaks at the ITam Halalan 2025 Forum held at the Far Eastern University – Institute of Technology in Manila on February 19, 2025. Jown Manalo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — “Let us put artificial intelligence in the brains of senators who are part of political dynasties, along with celebrities.”
Senatorial aspirant and labor leader Luke Espiritu had this to say when asked about his stance on using and regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in the public and private sectors.
Espiritu, a staunch critic of political dynasties, said traditional politicians from the Duterte, Marcos, and other dynastic camps “have no natural intelligence, only the thirst for intelligence funds.”
“If they remain to be in power in the age of AI, better yet, replace their brains with artificial intelligence tech,” he told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message on Thursday.
During an election forum at the Far Eastern University-Institute of Technology, Espiritu said:
“Kapag talaga hindi natin mapigilan ang mga political dynasty sa 2025, at saka mga artista, at sila pa rin ang maging senador, sang-ayon ako [sa artificial intelligence].”
(If we really cannot stop political dynasties and celebrities from becoming senators in 2025, then I agree with artificial intelligence.)
“Gamitin natin. Lagyan natin ng artificial intelligence ang kanilang mga utak.”
(Let’s use it. Put artificial intelligence in their brains.)
He further outlined his simple platforms—political reforms and a social justice agenda.
“Sisimplehan ko. Sa political reforms, ‘yan ‘yung kailangang mabuwag ang dynasties,” Espiritu said.
(I will keep it simple. For political reforms, we need to dismantle dynasties.)
“At social justice agenda, lahat ng mga agenda para sa ating manggagawa, mga magsasaka, ang mga MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) natin, sa lahat ng mga nandun sa tubuhan ng ating lipunan, sa mga maralita,” he added.
(And for the social justice agenda, it will include all agendas for our workers, farmers, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and for those at the grassroots of our society, including the poor.)
He also warned that if he and other progressive candidates do not win in the May 2025 midterm elections, political dynasties will continue to dominate the country.
“Pagka hindi kami na-elect bilang senador, ang Senado natin pagdating ng 2025 ay senado talaga na kumpleto na ang kapangyarihan ng political dynasties,” the labor leader warned.
(If we are not elected as senators, by 2025, our Senate will be fully dominated by political dynasties.)
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“Sa 2025 Senate, nandoon ang tatlong Tulfo na nagbubuo ng Tulfo dynasties. Nandoon ang dalawang Villar na alam naman natin kung ano sila sa ating lipunan,” he pointed out.
(In the 2025 Senate, there will be three Tulfos building the Tulfo dynasty. There will be two Villars, and we all know their role in our society.)
“Nandoon ang dalawang Cayetano. Nandoon na rin ang dalawang Ejercito Estrada—mga dinastiya na kumokontrol hanggang lokal papuntang nasyonal,” he further said.
(There are two Cayetanos there and two Ejercito Estradas—dynasties that control from the local to the national level.)
Espiritu was referring to senators Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, JV Ejercito Estrada, and senatorial candidates Erwin and Ben Tulfo, and Camille Villar.
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Espiritu noted that political dynasties, which once primarily held local power, are now aiming for national dominance.
“Ngayon, 2025 will mark a different period in the rule of the political dynasties na predominant na talaga sila, ‘di lang sa local, pati sa ating national,” he emphasized.
(Now, 2025 will mark a different period in the rule of political dynasties as they become predominant not only locally but also nationally.)
He also said that the upcoming presidential race might be dominated by two powerful families.
“Malacanang will be contested by two families sa ating bansa. Alam na natin ang pinapakalat, ang dini-drill nila sa ating utak na ang pulitika sa Pilipinas ay nahahati lang sa dalawa – sa kabutihan at kasamaan,” Espiritu said.
(Malacanang will be contested by two families in our country. They are spreading the narrative, drilling into our minds that politics in the Philippines is only divided into two – good and evil.)
Espiritu added that political discourse is now reduced to a battle between a “dynasty of the north and a dynasty of the south,” sidelining those who oppose political dynasties.
“‘Yan ang mga diskurso. ‘Yan ang mga dominant na mga ideas na pinapakalat nila na dalawa lang ang pagpipilian. Eh ano tayo, singaw? Singaw ba tayo? Hindi ba tayo umiiral sa mundong ito?” he asked.
(Those are the discourses, the dominant ideas they are spreading—that we only have two choices. So what are we, nothing? Are we just vapor? Do we not prevail in this world?)
READ: Tulfo, Lacson lament absence of anti-political dynasty law
Despite these developments, Espiritu expressed hope that many Filipinos still oppose both the Marcos and Duterte camps and reject political dynasties.
“Ang mga lider, ang mga pinuno ng ating bansa na produkto ng political dynasties, dyan nanggagaling ang pinakakurap na mga lider,” Espiritu said.
(The leaders, our top government officials who are products of political dynasties, from them come the most corrupt leaders.)
“D’yan din nanggaling ang hindi rumerespeto sa human rights. D’yan din nanggaling ang mga incompetent. D’yan din nanggaling ang walang lamang bankrupt na mga diskusyon,” he observed.
(They are also the ones who do not respect human rights. They are the incompetent ones. They are the source of empty, bankrupt discussions.)
With this, Espiritu called on voters to consider other options for the Senate.
“Dapat tayo pumili ng ibang source ng ating leaders. At makikita lang ninyo yung mga competent, hindi kurap, lumalaban para sa kaapihan, may solusyon sa kahirapan… Makikita nyo lang yan sa mass movement,” he concluded.
(We should choose a different source for our leaders. And you will only find the competent, those who are not corrupt, those who fight against oppression, and those who have solutions to poverty… You will see them in mass movements.)
