For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Magazines, Sara Duterte, who is running for vice-president, Bongbong Marcos Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Election, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Bongbong Marcos, a Philippine Dictators Son, Leads the Race for the Presidency. Yes, Philippine politics is still widely considered as an easy road to easy money, but too much greed is now generally accepted as being dangerous to ones political career. There's more to it. subscription, Philippine court orders arrest of ex-first lady Imelda Marcos for graft, Marcos wealth spread all over Europe - lawyer, Philippines: 523% increase in internet speed, Philippines: 5,000% surge in digital payments in the time of COVID-19, Clark Airport: Rising travel hub 85km north of Manila, Sinking Philippine tanker sparks diesel spill, Marcos urges military to focus on South China Sea, Unpaid taxes? Even historians are bewildered at this reversal of narratives. But the countrys weak legal system means those able pay the best lawyers can get away with high crimes. Add to. Two years later, Imelda Marcos was allowed to return to the Philippines, where she ran for president twice unsuccessfully before winning a seat in the countrys Congress four times, most recently in 2016. Envoy: Japan, Australia may join patrols with US, PH. It underscores how mastery of social media gives one unbridled primacy in monetising message, and shaping public perception. (3) His knowledge of and use of the law as basis of his official acts. Please try again. Marcos Jr.s 2022 presidential campaign advocates unity as a means of lifting the country from the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. The well-respected Pulse Asia shows Marcos Jr. ahead by a wide margin 53% of the 2,400 respondents picked BBM in January. Despite this message, he has become the most divisive candidate in the race. If they are too hostile, then they might find themselves villainized and restricted, as in other illiberal democracies. Rappler.com. Students at UP used to launch lightning rallies, in which they marched from one floor to another yelling slogans and waving banners and then quickly folding the banners away and dispersing before the cops showed up. But still, given our experience with Marcos, theres a line, especially in national races, that I suspect candidates will not cross for fear of sparking a severe backlash. The ground has shifted, said political science professor Richard Heydarian. But for those who did not experience his fathers regime, the younger Marcos appears to offer a refreshing choiceespecially after preceding presidents failed to solve the grinding poverty, weak infrastructure, and deep-seated corruption that dominate the daily lives of so many Filipinos. Authoritarian incumbents and exiles around the world are watching the Marcos comeback story with avid interest and have already been given a powerful takeaway. It worked for a time, mainly because people knew that, by discipline, the dictator meant, Shut up and submit, or else. It got so bad that one U.S. official observed that the Philippines in the 70s and 80s had turned into a country of 40 million cowards and one SOB. Well, Filipinos were willing to let that be the case only for so long. In September 2020, Facebook took down a network of fake accounts which the social media giant said had ties to the military and the police, President Rodrigo Duterte and his family allies. By presenting the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s infrastructure legacy, his "Bagong Lipunan," as so-called proof that the Philippines was a utopia of sorts back during Martial Law. The political is personal in the Philippines and vice versa; no felt connection to that time period, coupled with the lack of learning about martial law in school curriculum, created a chasm waiting to be filled with the loudest perspectives.. When the opposition finally went to the grassroots and had a dialogue with Marcos supporters, it was inspiring, monumental, and important. At the same time, a concerted attack on Marcos by other presidential candidates (among them Vice President Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former boxing champ Senator Manny Pacquio, Senator Ping Lacson and six others, whose poll numbers are lagging) isnt helping their case, pundits say. More than half of the countrys population was born after 1986, and thus have no personal memory of martial law or the catalysts for the Marcoses downfall. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Therefore, itd be pointless for other candidates to seek the endorsement of the incumbent president. His son and his allies want us to forget what his regime did. Rob Reyes/Rappler. Oh, Marcos and Imelda look so happy and proud in photographs with Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Marcos Jr., along with Duterte-Carpio, refused to grant interviews to international media or participate in debates. He had already given a number presidential debates a pass. Myth-making and appeal to emotionsform part of power games. I am extremely pleased. Terms of Use It shows the primacy of trolls in fanning false hopes, and the dire need for maturity among voters. Many kept these claims alive on social media, and within his self-reinforcing silo of followers. There are no comments yet. Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com, By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our He has withheld the truth about the Marcos plunder before and during martial rule, which he has misrepresented as a golden era. He knows from multiple accounts that these illicit funds are diversions made from foreign economic aid, US military assistance, and from public and private sources. -00:0005:08. A newer January 2022 Pulse Asia survey, which gauged what voters consider the most in picking a presidential candidate, found that not corrupt, has a clear platform of action, and extensive experience in governance were the three top considerations. "A great leader doesn't need to influence someone with hate," says 20-year-old voter Azcune. Your subscription could not be saved. 62.75.204.46 For me, the Marcos victory should instead trigger a hard and honest reckoning of how and why most Philippine voters are willing to delve deeper into authoritarian fantasy and reject the high principles and hero personalities of liberal democracy. Its a counter-revolution, said Prof. Heydarian. For the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats top of mind. PDP-Laban, the party Duterte chairs, has adopted Sara Duterte as its vice presidential candidate but has not endorsed a presidential aspirant. Rather than scapegoating social media as a technological brainwasher, turning out voters who support populist strongmen, we must consider why communities resonate with, and willingly participate in, myth-making, misinformation, and historical revisionism online. The elites have been doing that for generations well before he came to power. You have a succession of administrations which really came short of fulfilling the fundamental ideals and aspirations of the Filipino people, which was expressed in the 1986 revolution, says Richard Heydarian, a professor of political science and Asian geopolitics expert based in Manila. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. They were either supportive of candidates from political clans or undecided over whether theyd vote dynasties into power. He has been found guilty by a Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals of tax evasion for the billions of pesos in unpaid taxes racked up by the Marcos estate. In unofficial election results announced on Tuesday, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is leading Leni Robredo, his main. Marcos Jr said so himself. And thats what makes the 2022 elections different. The coming election is far too important to leave to chance; in the end, our choice is really about who we are as a people. Their family has gone from being a plunderer (there are still pending cases against Imelda Marcos and Jr himself) to become heralds of national rebirth. Hundreds of pro-Marcos Youtube videos had been fact-checked, and taken down from the popular video sharing platform controlled by US-based Google/Alphabet. Sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan, Disiplina ang Kailangan. For our nation to develop, we need discipline. That was the regimes slogan for Marcos New Society. The nightmare of his 21 years in power still haunts us today, a powerful, constant reminder of a chapter in our history that must never be repeated. And so I doubt the Philippines will move towards a 20th century-style dictatorship. SINGLE TERM MANDATED: Bongbong Marcos Jr, now 64 (born September 13, 1957), served as a politician under the Philippines' 1987 Constitution, which bans a reelection for president. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Marcos Jr's deliberate non-appearance in major presidential debates may seem, to many, as a lost opportunity. They think Marcos did well as a senator, has enough political experience, they mention his housing bills, his tenure as a congressman. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Bongbong appears as a great leader because he has successfully positioned himself as a change candidate, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of years of political antagonism and pandemic hardship and hungry for a better story. But then again, after what Marcos did, Filipinos are rightfully suspicious of anyone wanting to fool around with laws meant to prevent power-hungry politicians. Cultural centers, specialist hospitals, and even a nuclear power plant were erected, funded in large part by foreign loans. The Reagan White House finally realized he was a liability to U.S. interests. Thats why Duterte won, not because hes really good, but he convinced people that hes really the guy who gets things done. The Uniteam is a formidable force in the elections not only because of its 2022 ticket. Theres former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Senator Bong Revilla of Lakas-CMD, and former president Erap Estradas son Jinggoy Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, to name a few. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as "spoiled" and a "weak leader" as he spurned a coalition with the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara . 2023 TIME USA, LLC. But thanks in part to a patient long-term project of brand rehabilitation on social media, and expedient power-brokering with the powerful Dutertes to unify forces against their liberal elite rivals, the family has made a successful comeback. After a maddening campaign season, which saw a polarized electorate disagree on everything from the methodology of opinion polls to the moral significance of showing up for public debates, voters in the Philippines have elected a new set of leaders. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Rappler investigations have found that across several platforms, disinformation networks were used to further the Marcos narrative. But the power plant was never used, and the countrys external debt soared from $800 million at the start of Marcos first term in 1965 to $28.3 billion when he was oustedmore than 80% of the countrys GDP. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. He is the second child and only son of 10th . Thats why theyre keeping him in a refrigerated vault. Political opponents decry the human rights violations during his fathers dictatorship, the billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth, and the familys unpaid taxes. 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His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception. Your IP: How can one not laugh at Marcos and Imeldas antics? Marcos Jr. followed in his fathers footsteps by holding a variety of public offices, including governor and congressman. In mid-January, the SWS survey commissioned by ADR, showed BBMs numbers are around 50% (up from 43% back in October 2021). And no talk means no mistake. Supporters of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte cheer during their last campaign rally before the election on May 07, 2022 in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Theres been too much talk about an apology from the Marcoses. To find out more, please click this link. Marcos protested, but lost in the initial recount of ballots in three provinces which is camp picked for recount. By recasting himself as the victim of elite historians and academicsas the victim, even, of the activists who survived torture and abuse during his fathers dictatorshipMarcos shows that false victimhood claims can effectively appeal to an anxious public when packaged in compelling myth and melodrama. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. In 2016, polling agencies (notably Social Weather Station, or SWS) correctly predicted that Robredo would win. Filipino columnist Benjamin Pimentel could only describe this bewildering plot twist in the language of high fantasy: Its as if Kylo Ren emerged and the Empire is back in power., Read More: How TikTok Helped Marcos Rewrite His Familys Brutal Legacy. Marcos Jr. has ignored the testimonies and documented cases of killings, tortures, and arbitrary arrests during his fathers dictatorship as reported by established human rights institutions. It's a rather vague promise, amplified on social media. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, where many Filipinos consume their information, were flooded with content casting martial law and life under the elder Marcos as a golden age., This directly informed many peoples understanding of martial law under his father presenting that history in a positive light, Villaraza said. It was unthinkable at first. In 2013, the 40 richest families, who control key sectors of the economy, including giant media networks, ring-fenced 76% of newly-created growth, according to one report. The Manila Times Podcasts. To fight back, progressive leaders should advance their own counter-narrative and persuasive vision. Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos (left) and San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook) "Alam natin kung ano ang . Marcos is going to have to tread very carefully insofar as the connections with the United States, Rafael said. He defeated nine other opponents by a wide margin in an election that experts say was tainted by rampant social media misinformation. It manifests the resentment many Filipinos have towards oligarchic stranglehold over the country's economy in the last 36 years since the EDSA revolt that ousted Marcos Sr, an order which left many poor and disenfranchised. Not enough about gratitude to the late dictator and his allies. You just wont find such an act of defiance in other places. Based on a Pulse Asia survey held from January 19 to 24, inflation, workers pay, poverty, graft & corruption, and job creation were the biggest issues for voters. In 2016, as voting day drew near, Pulse Asia had correctly predicted that Robredo would win, and she did. The polls overwhelmingly favour Marcos Jr. In 1984, the Philippine GDP shrank by a record 7%the worst contraction since World War II. Really the guy who gets things done to seek the endorsement of the 2,400 picked. 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