Ed Garcia is a framer of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a former researcher at the international secretariat of Amnesty International, and a peace envoy at International Alert. However, the incoming president and his family are very explicit about being victims of an important player in liberal democracy: the press. Whether true or not, this emotional appeal resonates well with most voters, and has reinforced voter sympathy for him. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. But now, the Mayor of the southern city of Davao, is campaigning for Marcos, whose family has dominated politics in the countrys north for decades. This, together with sustained geo-targetting of Filipino social media users with content favouring Marcos and his family, goes all the way back to at least 2014, according to one study. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Since October 2021, data from Pulse Asia surveys show Marcos Jr is way ahead of Robredo. Why is it important to subscribe? Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rally the crowd on his presidential bid in the May Philippine elections, in Mandaluyong CIty on February 13, 2022. Image Credit: Malacanang Museum and Library. 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. More than 30 million Filipinos. We can thank Marcos and Imelda for this. 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Marcos Jrs commanding leads in most polls todaydoes not surprise political scientists here. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Filipinos long for strong leaders who can deliver. His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. Thats what Marcos once declared: I do not intend to die. His family and supporters apparently understood that to mean he does not want to be buried, too. 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. 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%). For too long, progressives have taken for granted that facts in themselves are sufficient. That makes them vulnerable to disinformation and fake news. With Marcos Jr. having studied internationally he attended programs at Oxford University in England and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, but did not finish either, according to Reuters he is likely to take a softer stance with the U.S. and other Western allies, Rafael said. But he has decided to look the other way. The oppositions standard-bearer, Vice President Maria Leonor Leni Robredo (the only female candidate in a 10-way race), is a distant second, at 20%. Thats probably why Bongbong Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to us during his fathers reign. Marcos Jr. also benefits from an existing power base in the northern provinces, in a country where politics is inherently dynastic. 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. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. Therefore, itd be pointless for other candidates to seek the endorsement of the incumbent president. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., the presumptive president of the Philippines, at a campaign rally in Quezon City in April. His near-certain. Marcos Sr. was brought down with US support. When we actually talk to paid political trolls, we might be surprised as to why this has become a gig for many. Fatima Gaw, assistant professor of communication research at the University of the Philippines, says its almost impossible to distinguish between propaganda and genuine support on such platforms. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (UK: / m r k s / MAR-koss, US: /-k o s,-k s /-kohss, -kawss, Tagalog: ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. The anti-oligarch sentiment runs deep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, speaks during a rally as he campaigns for the presidency on Feb. 19, 2022 in Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines. Senator Santiago chose Senator Marcos for the simple reason that he has proven to possess the qualities that she values the most. Despite leading preference polls, Marcos Jr has yet to lay out a comprehensive platform. This is like just cementing the ruling class, La Via, the former dean of the Ateneo School of Government, says. 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. I HAVE differences with former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on fundamental policy issues. 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. 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He has teamed up with the daughter of outgoing populist President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte, who is running for vice-president. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr . Now take note: I said brazenly. For I know, elections Philippine-style are still dirty and cheating-prone. As a result, Tiktok, Facebook and Youtube are now the undisputed kingmakers in the Philippines. BBMs numbers have left other camps stumped. 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. The biggest clans in politics and the parties theyre part of are in the alliance. Your subscription could not be saved. Of course, Willie Nepomucenos career faced a crisis when Marcos was kicked out of the country, and later died. The battle has since moved to Tik-tok, owned by Chinas ByteDance. Bongbong Marcos became a senator in 2010, and ran for vice president in 2016, albeit unsuccessfully. He believes without question YouTube videos about the tonnes of Marcos gold stashed away in some vault. You just wont find such an act of defiance in other places. Marcos Jr., along with Duterte-Carpio, refused to grant interviews to international media or participate in debates. Bongbong Marcos Jnr and his family face arrest in the US for defying a court order to pay US$353 million to human rights victims. Robredo was around 19% to 20%. But this is reductive. Yes, people like a leader who is mabait (nice) and compassionate. PDP-Laban, the party Duterte chairs, has adopted Sara Duterte as its vice presidential candidate but has not endorsed a presidential aspirant. To be fair, Marcos and Imelda did not invent wealth-flaunting. 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). Stop attacking the messenger. Bongbong has successfully portrayed himself as the candidate for change, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of years of political polarisation and pandemic hardship, and hungry for. He had already given a number presidential debates a pass. It's a smart choice. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. How does disinformation work in flesh and blood? Or at the very least, that its not important, says Antonio La Via, former dean of the Ateneo School of Government. The underlying message: he will unite the country against the forces that kept the country weak and the people poor. Thats worth something. 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. That night, at Reagans urging, Marcos conceded to Aquino and fled with his family to Hawaii. 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. Marcos was perhaps the most charismatic of all Philippine presidents when democrats were still fashionable in elections and statecraft. Aaron Favila / AP file. All rights reserved. Hes not an outsider taking over.. And so I doubt the Philippines will move towards a 20th century-style dictatorship. 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. Replacing him was Corazon Aquino, the widow of an assassinated pro-democracy opposition leader. Then in 1983, the assassination of Marcos chief political rival, Benigno Aquino Jr., led the U.S. to distance itself from the Marcos regime. The Marcos myths of a strong and stable nationand of being misunderstood victims who could thus relate with anyones social and economic victimhoodwould resonate in many countries. He is a 2022. 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. Critics say a Bongbong Marcos victory would pose a huge threat to Philippine democracy. A Marcos Jr. win would complete his once-disgraced familys resurrection arc. To be honest, I dont think attacking Marcos (Jr) will be very useful, for the (opposition) campaign anymore. It underscores how mastery of social media gives one unbridled primacy in monetising message, and shaping public perception. Still, Marcos gained favor among Filipinos with his populist agenda. Independent media outlets were also shut down. and he'll be the first Philippine leader who cannot set foot in . Please try again. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Not enough about gratitude to the late dictator and his allies. In recent years, many analysts have unfairly caricatured the so-called surprise electoral victories of populist leaders as the result of uneducated voters brainwashed by disinformation. But that was only a sliver of what they had amassed, and in the following decades, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos would be hit with criminal and civil fraud charges filed in the United States and accusations by the Philippine government that the couple plundered billions of dollars from their home country, stashed millions in Swiss and Hong Kong bank accounts, and tried to profit from clandestine investments in New York real estate. Marcos for the simple reason that he has proven to possess the qualities that she values most... 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