The World Opinion

Tag: Ferdinand Marcos

  • Philippines: What the long run holds underneath Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s rule?

    A chain of arrests and crackdowns on media shops within the weeks prior to the presidential inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday foreshadows a persevered local weather of intolerance for dissent and shrinking civil liberties within the Philippines, warn activists and human rights defenders.

    On Wednesday, the rustic’s Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) upheld its 2018 ruling to close down Rappler, the scoop group based by way of Nobel laureate Maria Ressa in 2012.

    The SEC stated the hole violated “constitutional and statutory restrictions on international possession in mass media.”

    In a web-based briefing, Ressa stated that Rappler would enchantment the SEC choice and that its newshounds would proceed reporting. “We have now plans A to Z…we don’t seem to be going to voluntarily surrender our rights.”

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    Ressa is preventing a minimum of seven court docket instances, together with an enchantment in opposition to a conviction in a cyber libel case, for which she is out on bail and faces as much as six years in jail. Rappler faces about 8 instances, Ressa stated.

    However it’s no longer the one media outlet that has been stuck within the executive’s crosshairs.

    Misuse of anti-terror rules to head after media?

    Previous this month, the Nationwide Safety Council ordered web carrier suppliers to close down an inventory of internet sites “discovered to be affiliated to and are supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations.”

    Web pages suffering from the ruling incorporated unbiased media shops corresponding to Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly.

    “The hot order to dam internet sites displays how simply the federal government can silence dissent and significant reporting underneath the quilt of imposing rules and rules,” Jonathan de Santos, chairperson of the Nationwide Union of Newshounds of the Philippines, advised DW.

    “The timing of it, simply days prior to President Rodrigo Duterte stepped down, makes this appear to be a final hurrah for an management that has been antagonistic to the click,” he added. “The click underneath Marcos Jr. will most likely see the similar hostility as we noticed underneath Duterte, if no longer worse.”

    The web site of Amihan Nationwide Federation of Peasant Girls, a exertions rights crew that has been at the receiving finish of relentless acts of political intimidation, has additionally been blocked.

    Amihan stated that its web site makes a speciality of problems and calls for of peasant ladies and the agriculture sector.

    “The brand new management is already appearing its overlook for human rights and press freedom. They proceed to bend rules to serve their get advantages,” Zenaida Soriano, the rights crew’s chairperson, advised DW.

    Soriano stated Amihan’s financial institution accounts have additionally been frozen since ultimate 12 months because of alleged violations of terrorism financing laws.

    “You can not be expecting the rest just right from a Marcos, Jr. and Duterte tandem. They’re the usage of the anti-terrorism regulation in opposition to electorate who’re status as much as shield their rights and their livelihoods. This is similar legacy in their fathers,” stated Soriano.

    Landslide victory aided by way of disinformation?

    Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the previous Philippine dictator, was once sworn in as president on Thursday after his landslide victory within the contemporary election.

    His operating mate — Sara Duterte, the daughter of his predecessor Duterte — was once sworn in as vp previous this month.

    Either one of them have thus far failed to recognize the human rights atrocities that came about underneath their fathers.

    More than a few media organizations have documented how Marcos Jr.’s victory was once aided by way of an enormous disinformation marketing campaign.

    Critics say each the Marcos and Duterte households have excelled at exploiting and manipulating social media to create another knowledge ecosystem with vast achieve.

    Regine Cabato, Manila correspondent for the Washington Put up and a member of the International Correspondents’ Affiliation of the Philippines, advised DW that the disinformation marketing campaign of Marcos Jr. ran for many years and was once “elaborate, moneyed, and spans other social media platforms, taking pictures other sectors.”

    “In many ways, outgoing president Duterte’s management noticed some institutionalization of disinformation: granting propagandists positions in executive, the fees in opposition to the normal press, and so forth,” Cabato stated.

    “However what Duterte advanced in 2016, Marcos Jr.’s staff has nearly perfected. His marketing campaign is slicker and faster than Duterte’s was once, with TikTok influencers and YouTube movies seeded for years. It’s a rabbit hollow and selection universe of disinformation,” he added.

    Philippines going through a lot of demanding situations

    Marcos Jr, 64, has thus far no longer offered many information about his insurance policies, however is predicted to hold forward the similar method as his predecessor Duterte, pursuing a ruthless consolidation of energy.

    The Philippines, in the meantime, has been a number of the nations worst-hit in Asia by way of the COVID pandemic, with over 60,000 deaths, a deep financial recession, worsening poverty and joblessness.

    The Russian battle in Ukraine, which has led to world meals and effort shortages in addition to hovering inflation, has compounded the demanding situations.

    By contrast backdrop, it’s no longer transparent how the brand new management will take on the issues.

    “It’s onerous to are expecting how a Marcos presidency will impact the economic system as a result of thus far he nonetheless has no longer get a hold of a complete or strategic plan,” Jan Carlo Punongbayan, an analyst and professor of economics on the College of the Philippines.

    “At this time, the rustic’s debt-to-GDP ratio is in way over 60%. Some analysts say we will be able to develop our manner out of present debt, however with the home economic system nonetheless in a precarious scenario and the worldwide economic system heading against a recession, rising our manner out of debt may nonetheless be tough to reach,” Punongbayan stated.

  • Marcos Jr. received Philippine presidency, unofficial rely presentations

    The namesake son of past due Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos perceived to had been elected Philippine president by way of a landslide in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “Other folks Energy” pro-democracy riot that booted his father into international infamy.

    Marcos Jr. had greater than 30.5 million votes within the unofficial effects with greater than 96% of the votes tabulated in a single day after Monday’s election. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, a champion of human rights and reforms, had 14.5 million, and boxing nice Manny Pacquiao perceived to have the 3rd best possible overall with 3.5 million.

    His working mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of the outgoing chief and mayor of southern Davao town, had an impressive lead within the vice presidential race, which is break free the presidential race.

    The alliance of the scions of 2 authoritarian leaders mixed the vote casting energy in their households’ political strongholds within the north and south however compounded worries of human rights activists.

    Supporters cheer as they come on the headquarters of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in Mandaluyong, Philippines. (AP)

    Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte have shyed away from risky problems all through their marketing campaign and steadfastly caught as an alternative to a fight cry of nationwide harmony, even supposing their fathers’ presidencies opened probably the most maximum turbulent divisions within the nation’s historical past.

    Marcos Jr. has no longer claimed victory however thanked his supporters in a late-night “deal with to the country” video, the place he recommended them to stick vigilant till the vote rely is done.

    “If we’ll be lucky, I’ll be expecting that your assist is not going to wane, your consider is not going to wane as a result of we now have numerous issues to do within the instances forward,” he mentioned.

    Robredo has no longer conceded defeat however stated the large Marcos Jr. lead within the unofficial rely. She informed her supporters the combat for reforms and democracy received’t finish with the elections.

    “The voice of the folk is getting clearer and clearer,” she mentioned. “Within the identify of the Philippines, which I do know you additionally love so dearly, we will have to pay attention this voice as a result of in spite of everything, we simplest have this one country to percentage.”

    On this photograph equipped by way of the Place of job of the Vice President, Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo talks as she provides a post-election observation from her house in Magarao, Camarines Norte, japanese Philippines. (AP)

    She requested her supporters to proceed to get up: “Press for the reality. It took lengthy for the construction of lies to be erected. Now we have the time and alternative now to combat and dismantle this.”

    The election winner will take workplace on June 30 for a unmarried, six-year time period as chief of a Southeast Asian country hit arduous by way of two years of COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns and long-troubled by way of crushing poverty, gaping inequalities, Muslim and communist insurgencies and deep political divisions.

    The following president may even most probably face calls for to prosecute outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte for 1000’s of killings all through his anti-drug crackdown — deaths already underneath investigation by way of the World Prison Courtroom.

    On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch referred to as for the plain election winner Marcos Jr. to support the human rights state of affairs within the Philippines. “He will have to claim an finish to the ‘conflict on medication’ that has resulted within the extrajudicial killing of 1000’s of Filipinos, and order the unbiased investigation and suitable prosecution of officers answerable for those illegal killings,” mentioned Phil Robertson, the gang’s deputy director for Asia.

    A supporter waves a flag as they come on the headquarters of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in Mandaluyong, Philippines. (AP)

    Marcos Jr., a 64-year-old former provincial governor, congressman and senator, held a large lead in pre-election surveys. However Robredo had tapped into surprise and outrage over the chance of a Marcos recapturing the seat of energy and harnessed a community of marketing campaign volunteers to underpin her candidacy.

    After his ouster by way of the in large part non violent 1986 rebellion, the elder Marcos died in 1989 whilst in exile in Hawaii with out admitting any wrongdoing, together with accusations that he, his circle of relatives and cronies collected an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion whilst he used to be in energy. A Hawaii court docket later discovered him chargeable for human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his property to compensate greater than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit in opposition to him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

    His widow, Imelda Marcos, and their youngsters had been allowed to go back to the Philippines in 1991 and labored on a surprising political comeback, helped by way of a well-funded social media marketing campaign to refurbish the circle of relatives identify.

    Marcos Jr. has defended the legacy of his father and steadfastly refused to recognize and make an apology for the large human rights violations and plunder underneath his father’s strongman rule.

    Officers mentioned Monday’s election used to be slightly non violent regardless of wallet of violence within the nation’s risky south that killed no less than 4 folks within the nation’s risky south. Hundreds of police and army group of workers had been deployed to safe election precincts, particularly in rural areas with a historical past of violent political rivalries.

    Filipinos stood in lengthy traces to solid their ballots, with the beginning of vote casting behind schedule by way of a couple of hours in a couple of spaces because of malfunctioning vote machines, energy outages, dangerous climate and different issues.

    With the exception of the presidency, greater than 18,000 executive posts had been at the poll, together with part of the 24-member Senate, greater than 300 seats within the Area of Representatives, in addition to provincial and native places of work around the archipelago.

    Within the 2016 vice presidential race, Robredo defeated Marcos Jr. by way of a slim margin of their first political faceoff. He waged a years-long felony fight in opposition to her victory, alleging fraud, that were given defeated however he by no means conceded.