Elections in the Philippines: A son of a dictator in front of a human rights lawyer
Ferdinand Marcus Jr. is the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcus who was ousted in 1986.
The second candidate is the Vice President and a human rights lawyer - known for her criticism of the current government
Tali Goldstein
09/05/2022
Monday, 09 May 2022, 09:53 Updated: 10:17
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67.5 million eligible voters in the Philippines will vote Monday (Monday) in the general election Senators, provincial and municipal proposed heads, as well as a president and vice president, who will each serve six years.
Among the candidates for president this year is the daughter of the infamous outgoing president, the son of a former dictator and a world-renowned boxer.
According to polls, Ferdinand Marcus Jr. leads by a large margin over his rival, current Vice President Lenny Roberto.
A poll by the independent polling company Falls Asia showed that 56% of participants chose Marcus, the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcus, who was ousted in 1986.
Roberto, who defeated Marcus in the 2016 vice-presidential race, amassed 23% according to a poll conducted April 16-21.
"There are a lot of candidates, but only two have a chance of winning."
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The son of the dictator.
Ferdinand Marcus Jr. (Photo: Reuters, REUTERS / Eloisa Lopez)
Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends in late June, did not support any candidate - but his party supports Marcus, according to Reuters.
Voting will end at 7 pm local time (2 PM Israel time), and counting will begin immediately thereafter.
Unofficial results may be announced after a few hours, however, in 2016, Duterte was determined to be the winner just three weeks after voting at the polls.
The other eight candidates include world boxer Manny Pacquiao who retired from the sport in 2021 and according to the polls, received 7% of the vote, and Manila mayor Francisco Isco Moreno Domagoso, a former player who garnered 4% of the vote.
Already voted.
Vice President Lenny Roberto (Photo: Reuters, REUTERS / Lisa Marie David)
Friend "Bongbong" Marcus Jr. both 64 is the son of former President Ferdinand Marcus.
Marcus declared a military regime in 1972 and took over the courts, businesses and media in the country.
The army and police arrested and tortured thousands of his opponents.
Marcus, his infamous wife Imelda Marcus, and their relatives looted about $ 10 billion from the public coffers.
Imelda is of course remembered in history as the owner of 3,000 pairs of shoes.
She filed an appeal after being convicted in 2018 of seven counts of fraud.
A symbol of moral degeneration.
Imelda Marcus (Photo: GettyImages)
Marcus was deposed in 1986.
Millions took to the streets in protest, and his family was forced to flee the presidential palace by helicopter.
He died shortly afterwards in exile, but his family returned to the Philippines in the 1990s and began to be involved again in public life.
Marcus Jr. was elected governor, member of Congress and then senator.
In 2016 he ran for vice president, but lost to Roberto, a human rights lawyer.
The incumbent president.
Supports the dictator's son (Photo: AP)
Bongbong Marcus was convicted in 1995 of tax evasion while in public office.
His opponents argue that the conviction should prevent him from running as a presidential candidate.
Critics also claim that he used his fortune to soften the history of his father's rule on social media.
Marcus and his supporters tried to rewrite the story of his father's dictatorship and the brutal military regime described as one of the most painful periods in the country.
They deny that torture, illegal killings and billions of dollars in looting have been widely used.
To the proud son, his father's reign is seen as an era of peace and prosperity.
In Tiktor and YouTube, accounts that support Marcus glorify the dynasty and show videos of the dictator's sons and their many young fans.
Marcus Jr. denies that there is an organized campaign of false information about him.
However, in January, Twitter suspended hundreds of accounts that promoted its presidential campaign, for violating the company’s spam and maneuvering laws.
Bongbong Marcus also refused to take part in several televised discussions and interviews of independent media.
The slogan of his campaign is "Together we will rise again", and he promises unity and hope.
He said he would prioritize the cost of living and increasing the labor market.
The second candidate - a human rights lawyer
The second candidate in the polls is Vice President Roberto, who presents herself as the real alternative to Marcus Jr. and Duterte.
She is the daughter of a judge and has previously worked in NGOs that provide legal assistance to marginalized groups.
Roberto entered politics after the death of her husband, Interior Minister Jess Roberto, who was killed in a 2012 plane crash.
In 2016, Roberto was elected vice president, but her relationship with President Duterte was not warm.
She criticized his "war on drugs" and human rights issues.
Warbrodo warned of the risk inherent in populist leaders, condemning the accusations against Nobel laureate journalist Maria Rasa, founder of the Rappler website.
The president's daughter ran for vice president
Duterte is known for his hostility towards journalists.
Since coming to power in 2016, the country's leading news network has closed, and other leading newspapers and television channels that have taken a critical line towards the administration have been bought by tycoons and businessmen close to Duterte.
Duterte calls critical journalists by nicknames such as "Junk," "Dogs," "Pike News," and enjoys the support of the institutionalized press.
A wave of criticism was leveled at his decision to grant Marcus the Elder a burial of a hero.
But despite the criticism, he remains popular in his country.
Many believe he has kept his promises and is fighting hard against crime and corruption.
However, last year the International Criminal Court announced that it was investigating the president's "war on drugs," in which some 30,000 people were killed, according to estimates.
Sarah Duterte, his daughter, running for vice president, is enjoying this popularity in the current campaign.
She promises to tackle corruption in politics and her campaign slogan is "honest government, good life for all".
Duterte is perceived as weak and suffered in the campaign from spreading false information and defamation, according to a report by the fact-checkers organization Tsek.ph.
In terms of foreign policy, commentators believe that China is the biggest issue in the Philippines.
Marcus Jr. and Roberto completely disagree on the subject.
Marcus Jr. was perceived as friendly towards China.
He is expected to continue Duterte's pro - Chinese policy, if elected.
On the other hand, Roberto promised a tougher stance towards China, especially regarding the issue of the South China Sea.
Beijing does not recognize a 2016 ruling in The Hague tribunal in favor of Manila, which claims that two particular disputed parts belong to the Philippines alone, and Beijing has no claim to them.
China rejects the ruling outright.
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