Burdened With Past Sins, Bongbong Marcos Smoothly Becomes President Of The Philippines Because The Constitution Allows It

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Bongbong Marcos, stepped into the presidency despite being overshadowed by many cases as part of a political dynasty in the Philippines. (DW/Arthr Widal/Picture Alliance/NurPhoto)

JAKARTA- Ferdinand Marcos Jr or who is familiarly called Bongbong Marcos won the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election. The second son and only son of the former President of the Philippines from 1965-1986, Ferdinand Marcos dominated the vote, outperforming nine other candidates.

Bongbong Marcos' victory was predictable on May 10 even though the vote count had not yet been completed, but had already reached 98 percent. After 64-year-old Bongbong's victory was officially announced, it marked the return of the Marcos Dynasty to the top stage of Philippine politics.

36 years ago, Bongbong's father was overthrown by the People Power Revolution. Filipinos, fed up with the kleptocracy and dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, staged massive demonstrations in the country from February 22-25, 1986.

Bongbong Marcos in a campaign opportunity ahead of the Philippine Presidential Election on May 9, 2022 which he finally won. (Wikimedia Commons/Patrickroque01)

Being popular for hatred for the Marcos Regime was exacerbated by the assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr by the Philippine military on August 21, 1983. Ninoy, Marcos' main rival in Philippine politics, was shot while getting off the plane that brought him home from exile in the United States. Marcos was accused of masterminding the murder, although it has never been proven.

Corruption, poverty, dictatorship, electoral fraud, plus the assassination of Ninoy became the trigger for the People Power Revolution. Marcos finally abdicated, and fled to Hawaii on the night of February 25, 1986 with all his family members, including Bongbong. The end of Marcos' rule which had lasted for 21 years.

Ancestral Sin

The Marcos family is a political dynasty in the Philippines. Several political dynasties in the Philippines besides Marcos are Aquino, Ampatuan, Duterte, Roxas, Estrada, Macapagal, and Binay. The Marcos dynasty began with Bongbong's grandfather, Mariano Marcos, who was a senator from Ilocos Norte Province in 1925-1931.

Mariano was convicted of the murder of his political rival in Ilonos Norte, Julio Nalundasan in 1935. The court accused Mariano of having an evil conspiracy with his family, including Ferdinand Marcos, to kill Nalundasan. After being tried in 1938 the Marcos family was imprisoned for two years, before being released in 1940.

Bongbong Marcos as a child at Malacanang Palace when his father, Ferdinand Marcos was sworn in as President of the Philippines for a second term in 1969. (Wikipedia)

Mariano by the Marcos family has always been glorified as a fighter against the Japanese invaders in World War II. In the book The Marcos Dynasty, it is narrated that Mariano's death on March 8, 1945 was executed by the Japanese army.

However, in the testimony of a former American soldier, Robert Lapham, Mariano's death was precisely because he was killed by Luzon guerrillas. Mariano is accused of being a traitor by helping the Japanese to fight the Luzon Guerrillas trained by Lapham. Mariano was eventually killed by his own people.

United States of America's Message

The ups and downs of the Marcos political dynasty were dramatic. Cases of violence, human rights, and crimes always haunt Bongbong. However, the 1987 Philippine Constitution after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos seemed to protect the interests of the political dynasty in the country.

Despite the overwhelming recognition that political dynasties breed patronage and corruption politics, no substantial steps have been taken to address these problems in the Philippines. It's no wonder that Bongbong, with so many cases looming over him, can still walk into the seat of President of the Philippines.

The United States, as the Philippines' main partner, responded to Bongbong Marcos' victory with caution. Through the statement of Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, America reminded about the importance of human rights in the Philippines. Something that is feared will be reduced in the Bongbong era later, due to the legacy of his father's dictatorship.

Added to this is the concern that Bongbong will continue Rodrigo Duterte's authoritarian style, which he inherited through his daughter, Sara Duterte, as the vice president who accompanied Bongbong.

“We look forward to working with President-elect Marcos to strengthen the lasting alliance between the United States and the Philippines. As friends, partners and allies, we will continue to work closely with the Philippines to promote respect for human rights. And to advance the Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, connected, safe, prosperous, safe and resilient," said Blinken as quoted by GMA News on May 12.

Bongbong Marcos with his running mate for Vice President of the Philippines, Sara Duterte. (Facebook/@Bongbong Marcos)

The United States learned from the experience of Bongbong's predecessor, Duterte. After being sworn in as president in 2016, Duterte insulted Barack Obama with dirty words after the American president raised the issue of human rights in the Philippines.

"There are a number of historical considerations that could initially lead to challenges in communication," said Kurt Campbell, White House Expert on Asian Affairs.

As of the morning of May 12, the vote count for the 2022 Philippine presidential election showed Bongbong won 31.103.670 votes. Her toughest rival, Leni Robredo, is in second place with a very large margin of 14.821.724 votes.

Responding to concerns that Bongbong would continue his father's kleptocratic and dictatorial style, coupled with Duterte's authoritarianism, he said it was better to judge his work later than to judge for past sins.

“Judge me by the results of my labors and actions, not from my ancestors. This is my promise, to be president of all the Filipino people," said Bongbong Marcos, conveyed by his spokesman, Vic Rodriguez, as quoted by the BBC.