brand logo

Another Marcos rises in the Philippines

10 May 2022

  • After a landslide victory in Monday’s presidential election, the son of the country’s late dictator faces pressure to set out policies as critics raise fears about country’s democracy
By Feliz Solomon Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Cruised to a historic victory in the Philippines’ presidential election, winning more than twice as many votes as his closest competitor and by the largest share since democracy was restored to the country in 1986. Now, the son of the country’s late dictator is under pressure to show what kind of leader he plans to be. His opponents fear he could use his power to wage political battles against his family’s adversaries, shield allies from scrutiny and enrich his associates like his father did before an uprising ousted him 36 years ago. What’s at stake, his critics say, is the future of democracy in the Philippines after a turbulent six-year term under outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte, a tough-talking populist, has been accused of using courts against critics, stifling independent media and overseeing human rights abuses as part of his war on drugs. To Marcos’s supporters, many of whom are too young to remember his father’s rule, the 64-year-old represents the antidote to a liberal elite that fell short on promises to meaningfully improve the lives of the poor. That image resonated particularly among those eager to overcome hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The country’s economy, which relies heavily on exports, services and foreign remittances, shrank 9.6% in 2020 – its worst year in decades – while badly needed infrastructure projects were slowed by supply constraints, lockdowns and funds rerouted to emergency responses. Growth rebounded slightly last year but still lags behind the pre-pandemic trajectory. “What I like about them is they want there to be no more Filipinos who are poor and struggling,” said Raymond Cumandao, a 30-year-old product promoter at a department store in Manila who voted for Marcos. “I believe that they will change the rotten system of the Philippines.” Securing 56% of votes in a preliminary count after Monday’s election, Marcos overtook his closest challenger, outgoing Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, by 30 percentage points. Yesterday (10), supporters celebrated outside the Marcos campaign’s Manila headquarters, chanting his name on the very same boulevard where millions of Filipinos marched to overthrow his father’s kleptocratic regime. Sara Duterte-Carpio, Duterte’s daughter, won the vice presidency alongside Marcos. Throughout their campaigns, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio revealed little about how they plan to govern. They skipped all of the debates hosted by election authorities and had limited engagement with news outlets. The pair focused instead on reaching voters through rallies and social media, branding their ticket as the “Uniteam” that would bring the nation together. With a decisive mandate, the spotlight has shifted to how Marcos will lead the nation through some of its most pressing challenges: lifting people out of poverty, modernising derelict infrastructure and balancing relations with the US, its ally, and China, its neighbour. Political and economic analysts are awaiting clues about who Marcos will appoint to key cabinet positions. He is viewed as more pragmatic, less volatile and more open to expert opinions than Duterte, whose mercurial policies and unscripted comments put allies on edge. US-Philippine relations were strained under Duterte, who saw the US as unreliable and resented Washington’s criticisms of his human rights record. Marcos has avoided taking unequivocal foreign-policy positions. In local media interviews, he has said would pursue bilateral talks with Beijing over disputes in the South China Sea, where their territorial claims overlap. He has played down the significance of a 2016 arbitration ruling that dismissed China’s claims in a case brought by the Philippines. He has said Manila’s “very special relationship” with Washington “has been a good thing,” but also suggested that it could be recalibrated. Marcos’s father, who he was named after, was a dictator who ruled the Philippines for 21 years. He was elected president twice, then declared martial law and clung to power for another 14 years, an era of rampant corruption and human rights abuses. Government investigators say the Marcoses stole $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion from the state. Critics were arrested, tortured and killed. The assassination of then-opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. In 1983 united the regime’s opponents and ultimately led to its downfall three years later. After an uprising against his rule, the Marcos family fled Malacañang Palace, the presidential residence, by US Air Force helicopter with crates of cash and other valuables. Imelda Marcos, the president-elect’s mother, has said she hastily stuffed a cardboard diaper box full of diamonds and carried it onboard. Protesters stormed the estate and discovered the family’s riches as they rummaged through offices, closets – even the refrigerator. The elder Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His relatives, including the junior Marcos, were allowed to return to the Philippines in the early 1990s and they set about rebuilding their political dynasty by running for various elected jobs in their home province of Ilocos Norte. Marcos Jr., who began his career as a vice governor there under his father’s regime, re-entered politics as a representative of the rural province. He later became governor and served in the Senate. All the while, successive governments struggled to hold the Marcoses accountable. Dozens of lawsuits have sought to imprison some of the family members and reclaim their stolen fortune. The government recovered more than $3 billion in assets, but much remains missing. Marcos Jr.’s mother, Mrs. Marcos, was convicted of graft in 2018 but was released on bail during an appeal, which is ongoing. Marcos Jr. was found guilty of tax evasion in 1995 but an appeals court modified his sentence, limiting it to fines. Marcos’ critics accuse him of whitewashing history. He describes his father’s rule as an era of development and stability, denies that he knew of or benefited from ill-gotten wealth and has played down allegations of rights abuses during the period of martial law.  Dereck Aw, a senior analyst at the consulting firm Control Risks, said although Marcos “shied away from taking meaningful positions on a range of key policy issues,” business as usual will likely prevail with no sign of major upsets to the country’s investment and economic outlook. One potential risk, he said, is that Marcos may seek to settle old scores by targeting elite families and businesses that gained from his father’s downfall. Marcos’s critics say his leadership style can be opaque. Manuel Aurelio, dean of the school of law at Northwestern University in Ilocos Norte who was a city councilor during part of Marcos’ governorship, said he was “habitually absent,” delegating duties to his deputy and spending most of his time in Manila. “I’d like to say he left something behind for the people, but I can’t think of anything,” Aurelio said. Marcos’ campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The Marcoses remain enormously popular in their home province, where they are viewed as benevolent patrons. “He’s down-to-earth, his campaign isn’t negative and I like that,” said Ronald Hermoso, a 38-year-old math teacher in Laoag, Ilocos Norte’s provincial capital. “I hope the Philippines will be great again just like he promised.” (The Wall Street Journal)   

Kapruka

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


More News..