(3) His knowledge of and use of the law as basis of his official acts. Digital Jonathan Ferro drives you through the market moving events from around the world on Bloomberg's The Open. IE 11 is not supported. 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. But his ultimate target is history itself. Oh, Marcos and Imelda look so happy and proud in photographs with Ronald and Nancy Reagan. The rest? The numbers show the jump from the previous polls is not significant. There's more to it. Manila After winning an overwhelming mandate of more than 30 million votes in Monday's election, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is the de-facto president-elect of the Philippines. Marcos Jrs commanding leads in most polls todaydoes not surprise political scientists here. 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. Hes the son of a dictator who was embroiled in corruption and human rights violations, and was ousted after two decades in power in the Southeast Asian nation. Add to. He has never recognized the wrongdoing that took place under the Marcos watch; has never apologized for it, sought pardon, nor provided restitution to countless victims and their loved ones whose lives had been shattered. Read More: Bongbong Marcos Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Election, Hes a person with a heart, says Reian Azcune, a 20-year-old voter in Rizal province. And no talk means no mistake. In the case of the Philippines, the liberal weapons of historical accuracy and fact-checking are simply no match for Marcos creative folklore, turbocharged by social media fan culture and relatable influencers. 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. It is for this reason that I would like to present 10 reasons why I believe Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. is unfit for the presidency. Military officers defected in support of Aquino, who was sworn in on Feb. 25, 1986. Only in the Philippines could yellow confetti become a symbol of protest. Read More: How the Son of a Dictator Became So Popular in the Philippines. Fortunately, like the late tyrant, Willie Nepomuceno did not intend to die. Story has it that the legendary haul of the yellow metal supposedly owned by the family of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr would finally be given back to the Filipino people. February 21, 2023, 4:51 AM. Early opinion polls show one important data point: The majority of Marcos supporters are those under 30, voters who were not born when his father imposed nationwide martial law and presided over human rights violations, corruption, and a massive economic slowdown. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has promised the Philippine people "unifying leadership," despite his family's dark and divisive legacy. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit cited Malaysia's "great contribution" to the peace process in Mindanao. But, more importantly, people want a leader who gets things done. Thats worth something. A ranking member of the House of Representatives believes that Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Bongbong Marcos has a "good heart" and is therefore worthy to lead the country. If you look at how he crafted his campaign, Rafael said, they were very good at playing the long game.. Funny how, for a people who love dance, we dont trust politicians who want to do the cha-cha. Most voters only use free data, unwilling to pay for additional data. Senator Santiago chose Senator Marcos for the simple reason that he has proven to possess the qualities that she values the most. And the desire for proximity to that celebrity is real.. It shows how the toxic combination of online trolling and the politics of nostalgia have conspired to shape public opinion. The economy and markets are "under surveillance". What drives the popularity of the Marcos-Duterte tandem is the fact that both belong to political clans from North Luzon and Mindanao, respectively. What can be more epal than having gigantic bust of yourself constructed along a major highway you named after yourself. Saying he sought to provide the country a unifying leadership, former Sen. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. officially threw his hat for the presidency under a "convoy of political parties, sectoral movements and youth organizations" led by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com, By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Your subscription could not be saved. It is the consequence for the terrorist attacks and bombings caused by communist terrorists, which is the Communist Party Continue Reading 14 Michael Ranola Read More: Imelda Marcos Has Had Part of Her Art Collection Seized. Call 896 6000. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr . 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. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. Marcos also got a boost from his alliance with Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, who won the vice presidential election by a landslide after opting not to run for president herself. The message of Marcos Jr, 64, is simple: Unity. Already, the Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people has experienced Dutertes bloody drug war and crackdown on dissent, which was so reminiscent of the elder Marcos brutal years in power. But he has decided to look the other way. 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. Image Credit:. And nuns praying the rosary in front of tanks? 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. If you mention Marcos anywhere in the world, for better or for worse, there is at least a vague knowledge perhaps about the shoes, Villaraza said. Specifically, unity against the ruling oligarchs. And it's textbook case for running a well-oiled campaign. This, it appears that Marcos Jr. has taken out an insurance policy to ensure that his term will not be cut short by Uncle Sam. Even historians are bewildered at this reversal of narratives. To find out more, please click this link. The well-respected Pulse Asia shows Marcos Jr. ahead by a wide margin 53% of the 2,400 respondents picked BBM in January. When Marcos was declared the winner, demonstrators filled the streets of the capital, Manila, for days in what is known as the People Power Revolution. That makes them vulnerable to disinformation and fake news. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "And we hope that this support that they have shown over the past few years will continue and will continue to contribute to the success of the peace process and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region," Marcos said. Ironically, Marcos Jr and his family are, in fact, hounded by corruption issues. Unofficial results from Mondays election show Marcos Jr., 64, capturing more than 31 million votes, double that of his closest rival, current Vice President Leni Robredo, with other candidates trailing far behind, including retired boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. The late President Ferdinand Marcos waves goodbye to supporters from the balcony of Malacaang Palace in Manila following his oath-taking ceremony as victor in the Philippine Presidential snap elections, Feb. 25 1986. At the launch of Bongbong Marcos campaign, a celebrity emcee rallied the crowd saying: We have a winner, the fight is over! Image Credit: Malacanang Museum and Library. The Constitution bars him from seeking a second term. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Throughout his time in public life, he has refused to apologize for rights violations and corruption during his fathers reignsaying that history should be left to the professors. But educators have shirked the task. Graphic noted that this network began in 2016 but its Philippines cluster was found to have started in March 2018, growing through 2019 and 2020. The Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image. Philanthropic foreign attempts to bolster the local liberal press, or support democratic organizations and opposition groups, will likely be attacked as unpatriotic by Marcos in the emotive language of nationalismas Duterte did before him and as Modi does in India. But he quickly bounced back, doing other politicos, including former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. The ultimate goal: catapult Marcos' namesake and only son Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr, also known as BBM, to crush his rivals in the May ballot, and succeed President Rodrigo Duterte. These polling agencies are legit, said Prof. Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). Authoritarian incumbents and exiles around the world are watching the Marcos comeback story with avid interest and have already been given a powerful takeaway. The glint of celebrity also didnt hurt. For how can he, the dictators son, ever lead our country if he has approved, covered up, or been complicit in the commission of past crimes that somehow continue into the present? Marcos Jr could yet be disqualified, thus paving the way for Leni Robredo to become the Philippines third woman president, but the numbers are stacked against her. Marcos, known as "Bongbong", is the namesake and only son of the late strongman who ruled for almost two decades until overthrown in 1986 by a peaceful popular revolt. 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. But President Rodrigo Dutertes daughter, Sara (age 43), decided to stand down and contest the vice presidency, instead. Marcos Jr. has perfected the art of fabrication and exaggeration, claiming credit where there was none. . Civility and respect toward his officials. During that time, dissidents and political opponents were jailed and described being tortured and sexually abused by soldiers. We can thank Marcos and Imelda for this. But a major question remains whether Marcos Jr. will continue many of the policies under Duterte, who is a close ally, and potentially appease Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid the two countries territorial disputes in the South China Sea. A great leader doesnt need to influence someone with hate, says 20-year-old voter Azcune. In many ways, the anti-epal mood is rooted in how Filipinos grew so disgusted with the Marcoses. Hopefully, we don't get caught in the middle of a shooting war between the US and China over Taiwan. This was the last public appearance by Marcos and his family before leaving for exile in Hawaii. Initial polls showed she was even ahead of Marcos Jr in the presidential race. Despite the billions of dollars worth of Chinese investments in the Philippines, the country still leans on the U.S. as its prime backer, with the U.S. military a major source of weapons and training. The younger Marcos also knows where to meet these supporters: his team engages with millions of users on social platformsespecially TikTok and Facebookboth inside the Philippines and abroad. He got the highest percentage in the characteristics that mattered to voters most then: concern for the poor (29%), honest and trustworthy (32%), and not corrupt (28%). Situate the analysis of his accomplishments in a vacuum and. But theres another political figure whom candidates could look to for an endorsement: Senator Grace Poe, who ran for president in the 2016 elections. I must confess that I was thrilled when Marcos imposed Martial Law. Marcos Jr. also benefits from an existing power base in the northern provinces, in a country where politics is inherently dynastic. So why is the Philippines still in shambles?. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Graphika, an independent social analytics firm, has found that a Philippines cluster was the most-engaged with cluster of assets by a considerable margin., The content, both from pages and from individual accounts, praised President Duterte and his family allies, notably his daughter, and the daughter of former president Ferdinand Marcos, Senator Imee Marcos.. That a great number of Filipinos count on the mythical mountain of gold supposedly handed down to Marcos Sr by a fictional Tallano Family (whose gold stash supposedly came all the way from King Solomon), is no mystery. In some interviews, Marcos has let slip that he sees himself as the victim of mainstream media, insinuating that journalists have their own agenda. Borrowing a line from Donald Trumps playbook against liberal media outlets, he has recast as fake news legitimate evidence of his familys ill-gotten wealth. Marcos Jr. followed in his fathers footsteps by holding a variety of public offices, including governor and congressman. If the Marcos name was once reviled among many Filipinos who associated it with cronyism, rights abuses, excess wealth and shoes Marcos wife, Imelda, owned an infamous footwear collection the political dynasty appears to have reclaimed the highest office in the Southeast Asian nation, a longtime U.S. ally. He also scored upwards of 30% in the perception that he has the proven ability to respond to future pandemics (32%), honors and respects the law (32%), is not beholden to anything who can influence his decisions (34%). They make a formidable team, and are headed for a landslide victory in the May 9 polls. The reverse is happening. 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. In this free-for-all, trolls can be at the employ of various entities companies, celebrities, opposition politicians and the government, and trolls trolling trolls. The ultimate goal: catapult Marcos' namesake and only son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, also known as "BBM", to crush his rivals in the May ballot, and succeed President Rodrigo Duterte. Thats probably why Bongbong Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to us during his fathers reign. But historians say any analysis of the Philippines future with a Marcos scion at the helm would ring hollow without a critical eye toward the past. The first time I met Imelda in person was when the UP Collegian staff interviewed her at the Manila Hotel in 1984. Its an indictment on the complete failure of the Philippines to institute rule of law, Heydarian, the political science professor, saysadding that it also shows the countrys failure to confront its dark past. As authors of the first draft of history, the press are Marcos first target and an easy one. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., the second child of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, is the presumptive winner of the Philippine presidential election, with U.S. President Joe Biden calling to congratulate him on Thursday. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. They are artfully compelling stories for the young and the excluded. Add languages. Disinformation is a subset of misinformation, but which is deliberately deceptive. Marcos protested, but lost in the initial recount of ballots in three provinces which is camp picked for recount. 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