Congressional Tyranny: How Lawmakers Became Kings

What if the real dictators never wore military uniforms—but barongs and lapel pins? In Congressional Tyranny, A.A. Castor pulls back the velvet curtain on one of the most dangerous illusions in modern Philippine democracy: that power resides in the President. With razor-sharp satire and sobering analysis, this book explores how lawmakers have quietly transformed themselves from representatives into rulers—armed not with guns, but with gavels, budgets, and contempt powers. From weaponized budget hearings to backdoor appointments, media manipulation, and the jailing of critics without due process, Castor dissects how Congress has become the country's most powerful, unaccountable institution. With chapters like "Tyranny by Default" and "The Budget Becomes a Weapon," this book shines a light on the quiet coup happening under the guise of public service. Congressional Tyranny is not a conspiracy theory—it's a mirror held up to a system designed to protect itself. A must-read for anyone who still believes that the greatest threat to democracy comes from above, when in truth, it may already be seated in session.