As the 2022 election is only a few weeks away and Duterte’s tyranny is coming to an end, the state of Philippines’ democracy is in perilous condition as the frontrunner is Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the exiled former dictator of Philippines.
As the 2022 election is only a few weeks away and Duterte’s tyranny is coming to an end, the state of Philippines’ democracy is in perilous condition as the frontrunner is Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the exiled former dictator of Philippines.
Philippines will be voting for its new president on May 9, 2022, after 6 years of authoritarian leadership under Duterte. While many are relieved that Duterte’s reign is coming to an end, the reality is that his rule is far from over. Reports state that Duterte and his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP – Laban), were planning to nominate their ideal successor far before campaign season even started in a bid to further force their laws and views to the people. However, Duterte insisted that he is remaining neutral and will not be supporting any candidate even though his party have already aligned themselves with former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The party’s immense loyalty to Duterte is apparent as they continue to support his daughter’s bid in the vice presidency position and some members even went as far as calling Duterte to run for vice president, which Malacañang Palace have deemed “constitutional”. Fortunately, the current president will not be running for vice president as if it were to happen, Duterte will be able to continue his authoritarian legacy and further consolidate his power.
Corrales and Penfold (2014) analyzed the recent trend of undermining the quality of democracy by expanding the advantages of incumbency instead of improving the accountability of presidents seeking reelection in Latin America. The research shows that presidents who seeks to extend their term limit over what is considered constitutional often worsen their country’s democracy. This often leads to the continuation of authoritarian governance and an uncertain transfer of power.
Despite the fact that President Duterte will be replaced soon, his reign will continue in a sense as his daughter is one half of the front-runners in the 2022 presidential election, which has only been made possible through the support of his party and his personal endorsement. In addition, there have been questions raised about how the people intend to decide which candidate to vote for as reports show that presidential elections in the Philippines became all about the entertainment factor as Marcos Jr. continues to misrepresent his character in social media in a bid to get the young voters’ support.
There are only two viable candidates predicted to win in the 2022 Presidential election in the Philippines. The front runner for president is Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the former Philippine dictator, who is currently polling at 56 percent. Marcos Sr. was a dictator who imposed nationwide martial law and relished even after his numerous human rights violations, corruption, and massive economic decline before being exiled to Hawaii alongside his whole family. Studies show that most Marcos’ supporters are young adults under 30 as they did not live through his father’s reign of terror. On top of his checkered family background, his past doesn’t necessarily plead the case that he is fit to be president as he was convicted of tax evasion in 1995.
Leni Robredo is currently second the polls and 45 points behind Marcos Jr. and the incumbent vice president. Her position as a leader to the current opposition against Duterte is reflected in her track record of support for women empowerment and lack thereof for capital punishment. Throughout the campaign season, her rallies are the ones who draw most attention.
However, some continue to back Marcos Jr. as they are against the Liberal Party, Robredo’s former party that has been continuously falsely accused and attacked since 2016. According to a local election fact-checker, Tsek.ph, Marcos Jr. was the one who would benefit the most from positive misinformation while Roberdo is constantly harassed as a result. Other nominees, such as Domagoso, who ranks third in the polls, have pleaded for Leni Robredo to withdraw, and support them instead to “offer options” to the people. However, reports state that this is only a bid to interrupt Robredo’s momentum and public display of desperation as none of the three have any chance of winning.
With the election coming up in less than a month, there is very little chance that Robredo will win and regain democracy for the Philippines. One thing is certain, if Marcos Jr. wins the 2022 presidential election, any remnant of democracy left in the Philippines will cease to exist.
Love the article Debora! as a Malaysian citizen I have been following these events closely and agree that the coming election is pivotal to the future trajectory of Democracy not only in the Philippines but also to the ASEAN region as a whole!
It is very sad to see democracy in the Philippines deteriorate so clearly in the eyes of the world, and yet there is little that can be done besides sit back and watch. I thought it was very interesting how the supporters of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were mostly under 30, and as you said, did not live through his father’s reign of terror that tore the country apart. However, while I am impressed that Robredo is polling well, I am not surprised that the Philippines will probably not elect another female president this year; nor am I surprised that Robredo is taking the brunt of the political criticism and misinformation. While I hope the Philippines won’t be irreparably damaged by these upcoming elections, it is clear that they are welcoming a potentially authoritarian force into their presidency, especially with his past and connections.