A recent investigation found that newly-made Twitter accounts were used to promote the dictators son and attack critics in the lead-up to elections. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Three of these come to mind: (1) His respect and civility toward his official family. The education system did not teach the martial law experience properly, historicallyso that means that voters born after 1986 can easily be convinced that all of that was not true. What drives the popularity of the Marcos-Duterte tandem is the fact that both belong to political clans from North Luzon and Mindanao, respectively. (an article by cire oiraunay) i deeply cried when i discovered this very shocking truthful history of the greatness and brilliance of our beloved former president ferdinand e. marcos sr. then, he said: "i have committed many sins in my life. I was eight years old when it happened, and for a few weeks I didnt have to go to school and there was nothing but cartoons on TV. Given his record of delaying and obstructing the return of ill-gotten wealth to our country, it is hard to imagine that he can lead efforts to repay the trillions of pesos that the Philippines now owes, in large part due to the pandemic-induced downturn in our economy. 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. In all of his campaigns and rallies he never really intended to make fun of others, or he never maligned anyone.. In this battle of perceptions, MarcosJr's new-foundform and high numbers have left other camps stumped. He has so far failed to assure us that his election will not be a prelude to finally burying the efforts to recover all ill-gotten wealth that have lain hidden in the labyrinth of injustice these past 35 years. Yes, people like a leader who is mabait (nice) and compassionate. Leadership is about character. His pledge of better roads, more accessible internet, lower utility and food costs, and a desire to unite the Philippines seemed to sway voters, Villaraza said. 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. 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 rival and leader of the brave yet beleaguered political opposition, by a wide margin. Political opponents decry the human rights violations during his fathers dictatorship, the billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth, and the familys unpaid taxes. He is a 2022. Marcos Jrs mother Imelda has been sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Prof. Heydarian echoes Prof. La Via. For too long, progressives have taken for granted that facts in themselves are sufficient. Still, Marcos gained favor among Filipinos with his populist agenda. Of the seventeen presidents of the Philippines, a number have shown proficiency in languages other than English and Tagalog (which would later become the basis of the national language, Filipino ). But theres another political figure whom candidates could look to for an endorsement: Senator Grace Poe, who ran for president in the 2016 elections. It was taken down alongside a pro-China fake account network with origins in China. Sara Duterte's pull in Mindano is a huge plus for BBM. 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. Ferdinand Marcos Sr and his family including Bongbong Marcos Jr were forced into exile during the EDSA Revolution in 1986. Crony capitalism, in which Marcos favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed. Therefore, itd be pointless for other candidates to seek the endorsement of the incumbent president. 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. 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. Specifically, unity against the ruling oligarchs. If they are too hostile, then they might find themselves villainized and restricted, as in other illiberal democracies. This non-confrontational strategy has paid off, and handsomely. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. Military officers defected in support of Aquino, who was sworn in on Feb. 25, 1986. Marcos Jr. asks transport groups to rethink planned week-long strike, Bring on the sunshine: vivo makes summer vacays brighter for its fans, 9 persons of interest tagged in Adamson frat death still at large, 3 with police | INQToday, Kickstart summer with vivos hot smartphone deals this 3.3, House energy committee chair Arroyo bats for cheap electricity, Boybits Victoria, former PBA top rookie, passes away at 50, Kylie Padilla urges bashers to stop calling AJ Raval a mistress: Its not fair to her, Extremely disappointed Boy Abunda tells Liza Soberano: Do not disregard your past, BPI unit wins bid to manage P1-B Pag-IBIG Fund portfolio, Binondo warehouse raid yields P10-B worth of fake bags, shoes BOC, Marcos condoles with kin of Adamson U student: There should be no room for violence in student organizations. 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. Many people are voting for Marcos, not because they like Marcos more; they just dont like being told and being treated as bad [people], says Antonio Contreras, a political analyst in Manila. How can one not laugh at Marcos and Imeldas antics? Even historians are bewildered at this reversal of narratives. 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. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our, Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com, Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number. (This is an updated version of a list six years ago, which clearly is worth revisiting. These polling agencies are legit, said Prof. Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). When the opposition finally went to the grassroots and had a dialogue with Marcos supporters, it was inspiring, monumental, and important. As a result, Tiktok, Facebook and Youtube are now the undisputed kingmakers in the Philippines. Privacy Policy. 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. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. In 2016, Marcos Jr lost to Vice President Leni Robredo by a hairline. He does not attack other candidates. Replacing him was Corazon Aquino, the widow of an assassinated pro-democracy opposition leader. Imelda Marcos and Marcos Jr. still face a $353 million contempt judgment in the U.S. in a class-action over the elder Marcos rights abuses, and members of the Marcos family are also defendants in at least 40 lawsuits related to their wealth, Reuters reported this month. In a way, Marcos was right. Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. The trend lines are not as good for the opposition, but also not as prohibitive for BBM, said Heydarian. Both on your website and other media. Most voters only use free data, unwilling to pay for additional data. Disinformation does play a role (in shaping voter preference), especially in the low-income communities, said De La Salle University Political Scientist Cleve Arguelles. Digital 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. He has engaged the services of consultants and social media experts on the brand rehabilitation of the Marcos name. 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. 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. With more than half of voters aged between 18 and 41, the effect is significant. 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. 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. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. 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. And thats what makes the 2022 elections different. 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. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled the Philippines unfolded in dramatic fashion, bookended by his propaganda-fueled rise to power in the 1960s and a dark-of-night escape from the country in the 1980s after a nonviolent uprising toppled his authority. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr . Ironically, Marcos Jr and his family are, in fact, hounded by corruption issues. His campaign portrayed him as a champion of the poor about one-fifth of Filipinos live in extreme poverty. Magazines, How TikTok Helped Marcos Rewrite His Familys Brutal Legacy, How the Son of a Dictator Became So Popular in the Philippines, The Philippines Problem With Dynastic Politics, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, The World Should Be Worried About a Dictators Son's Apparent Win in the Philippines. 60 minutes featuring the brightest minds on Wall Street, taking you through the most important hour of the trading day. Tech platforms must now tread very carefully under a leader determined to rewrite his familysand the nationshistory. It involves integrity, honesty, hard work, competence, a track record of service to others essential ingredients for every candidate who aspires to become president of a country. The anti-oligarch sentiment runs deep. Marcos Jr said so himself. The Uniteam is a formidable force in the elections not only because of its 2022 ticket. Heis a poster boy for the most well-heeled Filipinos falling for disinformation. Presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Saturday that he believes that the election is still the "best form of anti-political dynasty process," as he . Marcos Jr's repeated claims that he was cheated in 2016, despite his loss in recounts and the final Supreme Court decision, portray him as an underdog. Marcos imposed nationwide martial law in September 1972 in response to escalating protests from civil libertarians and threats of communist insurgency. 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%). Political scientists cite 8reasons why BBM enjoys an unprecedented +50% of voter preference, and why the struggling opposition should care to listen and tweak their campaign: The Tallano gold is part of a bigger narrative to distort history, and burnish the image of Marcoses, through trolls-for-hire armies sustaining a venomous anti-oligarch, and historical distortion campaign. Unfortunately for Bongbong Marcos & Co., there are many of us who dont want to forget and who say: #NeverAgain. Hes not an outsider taking over.. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, greets supporters during a rally in Las Pias City, suburban Manila, on March 13, 2022. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. I must confess that I was thrilled when Marcos imposed Martial Law. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the presumptive president of the Philippines, at a campaign rally in Quezon City in April. The rest? How to Geta Free Flight to Hong Kong in 500,000 Airline Ticket Giveaway, Apple Suppliers Are Racing to Exit China, AirPods Maker Says, Microsoft Expands Game Pass as Regulators Fret Over Activision Deal, Cash Is Paying More Than Traditional Stock-Bond Portfolio, US Stocks Waver as Traders Weigh Rate Worries: Markets Wrap. Exiled to Hawaii three decades ago in the aftermath of a peaceful revolution that overthrew his fathers brutal regime, Marcos and his family are set to return to Malacanang Palacethe presidential residencewith riches intact, new and powerful allies, and a frighteningly bold electoral mandate. After the latter was deposed, the Philippine government under Cory Aquino announced it had succeeded in identifying $860.8 million squirrelled away by Marcos and his wife Imelda. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. But the countrys weak legal system means those able pay the best lawyers can get away with high crimes. That night, at Reagans urging, Marcos conceded to Aquino and fled with his family to Hawaii. Call 896 6000. It's a smart choice. Ferdinand Marcos died in Honolulu in 1989 at age 72. (Pro-Marcos military personnel would later be convicted in Aquinos death.). But his ultimate target is history itself. All rights reserved. To find out more, please click this link. Rob Reyes/Rappler. 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. He was special assistant to his father in 1979 and later, vice governor then governor of their bailiwick, Ilocos Norte. And that mindset is not going away., If you look at the Pew Research, people are willing to tolerate leaders with authoritarian tendencies if they perceive he can get things done.. Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com, By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our 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%). 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. Its a counter-revolution, said Prof. Heydarian. Marcos Jr. was 8 years old when his father was elected president in 1965. IE 11 is not supported. There's a perception that this has led to overpriced electricity, poor infrastructure (including slow internet), underinvestment in agriculture, marginalisation of the poor. Envoy: Japan, Australia may join patrols with US, PH. hippie fest 2022 michigan; family picture poses for 5 adults; unforgettable who killed rachel; pacific northwest college of art notable alumni; adler sense of belonging family constellation; how to spot fake bvlgari serpenti bag; Besides, todays generation, dont care much about what happened in the past. Content takedowns and de-platforming alone will not solve the disinformation crisis in the Philippines or elsewhere. They wrapped themselves up in this very strange bubble where only their supporters would hear what they had to say, which was nothing, Rafael said. 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). Pundits say that if the trend lines continue, with the polling just 67 days away, another Marcos will be in Malacanang Palace, the Asian countrys seat of power. What can be more epal than having gigantic bust of yourself constructed along a major highway you named after yourself. Dr. Julio Teehankee, professor of Political Science and International Studies at the De La Salle University, said: If youre enjoying 50% almost 60% in the surveys, then you can afford to do this.. Ronald Reagan, as California governor, struck an alliance with Marcos that stretched into his own presidency. By providing an email address. As authors of the first draft of history, the press are Marcos first target and an easy one. No one likes that.. Well send you latest news updates through the day. Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. The Marcoses, she says, have ruled with martial law for so long. But he has decided to look the other way. Add to. Marcos Jr. has secured 30 million votes in an initial count, more than double his closest rivalcurrent vice president Leni Robredo. Marcos was perhaps the most charismatic of all Philippine presidents when democrats were still fashionable in elections and statecraft. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has promised the Philippine people "unifying leadership," despite his family's dark and divisive legacy. Of the four points noted by Stratbase, three have come from Marcos Jr and his allies themselves. Marcos Jr is the most controversial, and is himself facing numerous cases, including a conviction over a tax-evasion case. Manhit pointed out that based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a candidate from a political dynasty. Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos (left) and San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook) "Alam natin kung ano ang . The Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image. His deliberate non-appearance in major presidential debates may seem, to many, as a lost opportunity. Manhit said candidates apart from Marcos Jr. should focus on building on their own strengths instead of hoping for a Duterte endorsement. . We should've learned our lessons already from our elders who lived . Marcos Jr., along with Duterte-Carpio, refused to grant interviews to international media or participate in debates. But even before the People Power Revolt, during the darkest days of dictatorship, Filipinos were already coming up with creative ways to defy the regime. 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. READ:Do the Marcoses have ill-gotten wealth? The Marcos family was also accused of stealing up to $10 billion from state coffers, a claim they have repeatedly denied even though authorities already have recovered around $3.3 billion in unexplained wealth.