Short answer: no.
Long answer: hell no—but let’s talk about why it feels like we should.

Congress in the Philippines isn’t a store where you can return defective products. If it were, customer service would be the busiest branch in the country, right after DFA passport renewal. You voted for them—or didn’t, because you were busy posting #IStandWithWhatever on Facebook instead of standing in line to vote—and now we’re all stuck with the human embodiment of “Terms and Conditions Apply.”

Our Constitution says Congress is sovereign, meaning only the people can replace it, and only at the next scheduled elections. The problem? That’s like saying you can only change the chef after you’ve eaten the entire toxic meal. And even then, you might hire the same chef again because—guess what—he bought half the barangay’s votes with rice sacks and Wi-Fi.

Yes, there are impeachment processes, recall elections, and all those supposedly democratic safety nets. But they’re about as useful as a “Wet Paint” sign in the middle of a typhoon—technically there, but everyone ignores it. The party-list system? Originally meant to empower marginalized sectors, now a VIP lane for political dynasties’ in-laws and mistresses with new surnames.

And here’s where it gets worse: the reason we want a different Congress isn’t just because they’re incompetent. It’s because self-interest has become their national ideology.

Self-interest is natural. We all have it. But in Philippine politics, it’s less “I’d like to secure my retirement” and more “I’d like to secure my seventh mansion before Christmas.” National concern? That’s the slogan on the tarpaulin. Self-interest is what’s printed in the fine print, right below “Paid for by Friends of Congressman”.

The ugly truth? Self-interest and national interest don’t have to be enemies. They could be aligned—if a leader’s ambition to look good, live well, and be remembered actually meant building something lasting for the country. But too often, our leaders choose the kind of short-term gains that leave the country paying the bill for decades.

National concern is long-term, strategic, and often unpopular in the short run. Self-interest is immediate, profitable, and always wrapped in a fake smile. And in this country, the immediate usually wins—because the election cycle is three years, and the attention span of the average voter is three TikToks.

And here’s the part nobody likes to admit: even if we could replace Congress tomorrow, come the next election, we’d still have to deal with the dumb-ass voters who keep reelecting the same assholes. Because as long as free T-shirts, celebrity endorsements, and last-minute cash handouts matter more than platforms and track records, the only thing changing in Congress will be the font size on the tarpaulins.

So no, we can’t ask for a different Congress midterm. But we can vote for one. And maybe this time, instead of treating the elections like a talent show, we treat it like a job interview—because it is. And the job description? Running the country. Not running away with your taxes.

The tragedy isn’t just that politicians choose self-interest over national concern. It’s that voters keep letting them—and worse, defending them—because in the Philippines, loyalty to the man often outweighs loyalty to the flag.