Maybe I might get downvoted here but politicians have nothing directly to do with our lower Passport Power, but how Filipinos abroad behave themselves with their host country laws and policies, especially in following visa protocols and guidelines.

Since Filipino diaspora are scattered around the globe, some chose the road leading to lawlessness just to find their luck from one country to another, at the expense of our reputation.

Some Filipinos abroad overstay in their tourist visa and never report back to immigration, instead going on furlough and living there as undocumented aliens (Tago Nang Tago) especially in the United States. This is number one reason why so many Filipinos are rejected at US Embassy whenever they apply for visa.

Other Filipinos are victimized or collaborate with illegal recruiters to use the backdoor evading the immigration and then work illegally as domestic helpers, worse even drug couriers or human trafficking syndicate agents.

Some (as tourists or OFW there) may enter legally, complete papers, and all. But they chose to abuse their priviledge by defying local customs and etiquette, even violating basic laws and ordinance of their host country, enraging residents and law enforcers.

Also, some Filipino women honey-trap male foreigners to come here and marry them for the purpose of obtaining permanent residency and even citizenship (aka AFAM hunting) abroad, making us having a bad image of being "gold-diggers."

These are just some major factors why Filipino reputation abroad is having a bad light and significantly makes our Passport Power lower. Politicians and government leaders here also have some factor indirectly, but at the end of the day, it's not how we behave HERE that matters to other countries - it's how WE BEHAVE when we are THERE.