The culture of impunity in the Philippines has long since been ingrained in the country’s history. Government servants who have committed crimes against the country still roam free and even run for office. One such case is of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He was convicted of several counts of tax evasion faced a disqualification case and petitions. However, he can still run for office because of his and his family’s power and influence. In fact, he is a candidate for the presidency In the 2022 elections. This is a clear sign that a new Marcos administration is possible
It is not old news for Filipinos that Marcos Sr.’s term was considered the lowest point for human rights, economic stability, and political stability. When Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in the Philippines, 70,000 people were arrested without warrants, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 people were killed. The Marcoses, until now, are still equipped with the wealth that they stole from the country; they even hold the title of “Greatest robbery of a Government” by the Guinness Book of World Records. It might seem funny that the Marcoses hold a title for their ill acts, but we cannot deny that a Marcos administration is still a possibility. The ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses has been estimated between $5 billion to $10 billion, but still, the money was nowhere to be returned to the Filipinos. They can still roam free even though there are dozens of proven cases against them—the culture of impunity is still rampant in our society.
Through the use of propaganda and historical distortion, the Marcoses are still able to capture the hearts of some Filipinos. We are fed that the Philippines was at the peak of economic and political stability during the term of Marcos Sr. This is one of the arguments of the supporters of Marcos Jr. that he will bring back the legacy that his father had built, which seems to have been effective. In fact, in a survey conducted by Pulse Asia, it is shown that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is one of the frontrunners in the 2022 Philippine Presidential Elections.
But on the contrary, at the end of Marcos Sr.’s regime, the Philippines’ foreign debt reached a record high of $28.26 million and armed rebellion swelled, and amplified in response to the oppressive regime. Even though the fake news and historical distortion have been debunked several times, it is worth noting that the Marcoses still have not lost their appeal and charisma; their supporters are still growing rampantly.
But there is still a glimmer of hope for Filipinos. Much like it is an opportunity for the Marcoses to have power in the 2022 elections, it is also an opportunity for Filipinos to fight and prevent it. Much like how the Filipinos rallied up and headed to EDSA during the EDSA uprising, Filipinos can rally up and vote against Marcos. Through rigorous effort and on-ground campaigning, we can see that people are now able to see that in reality, instead of having a campaign of his own, Marcos Jr. is still living under the shadow of his late father—under the false and distorted reality of the Philippines’ so-called Golden Era.
Through the collective efforts of Filipinos, the prevention of another Marcos coming into power is also possible. The prevention of an administration built on greed, lies, and transgressions is also possible. Never again.
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