CHECKMATE: KING STEALS THE GAME
Published May 27, 5:33 AM
Dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or also known as Bong Bong Marcos is the newly elected President of the Philippines receiving 31,104,175 or 58.45% of total Filipino votes. During the presidential campaign, many people asked why Marcos Jr. didn’t attend the Presidential debates. There was a situation in which Marcos Jr. chose to campaign in Pangasinan instead of attending the invitation of the CNN PH debate.
He chooses to be silent than face the different issues that are thrown at him. According to the interview of Marcos Jr. in Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum he said that “But if there are so many debates, pare-pareho na ‘yung tanong, we are not getting anywhere anymore. And if it is going to be that way na pare-pareho na lang and then wala the debate gets personal. What use is that to anyone?”
“So if there is a way the debate is actually productive, constructive—that we can talk about policy, we can argue, we can debate as a proper debate, then fine. I would go. But if you’re going to repeat and repeat the same thing, I’d rather campaign,” he added.
Some people said that it was his strategy because Marcos knows that when he joins in debates it will tackle the issues of Marcos’ family, again and again, especially the Martial Law that was implemented by his father which is the former President Ferdinand Marcos and it will affect his name for running in the presidency.
Given the current issues faced by Marcos Jr. and his consistent absences in presidential debates, It could be that the allegations against the dictator’s son are true–and that showing up in debates would furthermore add to the shreds of evidence that could be thrown against him and his family.
In the first place, Marcos Jr.’s candidacy for the presidency has always had hindrances. His eligibility to run has always been questioned by lawmakers and human rights groups.
The first reason was his conviction for failing to file the 1995 mandatory income tax returns from 1982 to 1985. This petition was validated by Manila’s Court of Appeals and became final in 2001.
Under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code, anyone who has been convicted of any offense and has been sentenced to a penalty of more than eighteen months or for a crime that involves moral turpitude is automatically disqualified from running for any elective public position, including for Presidency.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), confirmed the 203 Billion Pesos worth of penalties and interests following the unpaid estate tax by the late dictator, former President Ferdinand Marcos. This is another reason for Marcos Jr. to be barred from any electoral post.
These cases pushed lawyers and activists to petition for the disqualification of Marcos’ candidacy. The ruling of all four appeals was released on May 10, the day after the polls opened for elections. All petitions were junked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which makes Marcos’ candidacy valid.
Oppositionists were in dismay at the rulings. Marcos Jr. led the presidential polls by more than 50 percent which makes him the presumptive winner of the May 9 presidential elections. However, petitioners will not stop until they seek justice for the victims of the Marcos family.
The Philippine Supreme Court sought to cancel Marcos’ presidency and in the case that the disqualification case will be approved, all votes cast in favor of Marcos, would be considered a stray and therefore will be disregarded. The legal effect of this is that the person with the second-highest vote shall be proclaimed president. That person is Vice President Leni Robredo.
Even from the beginning of the filing of candidacies for the Presidency, Comelec has seemed to work very much in favor of the dictator’s son, Marcos Jr. Despite many allegations circulating the internet concerning electoral frauds, Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo insisted that there were none.
People on social media started complaining about a glitch in presidential bets, former senator Marcos Jr., and Vice President Leni Robredo's vote counts during the initial counting. Robredo's votes went from 12 million to 22 million counts and then back again to 12 million after refreshing the website, as shown in a screenshot from a netizen ABS-CBN News' "Halalan 2022" real-time election results.
In an interview with Inquirer Net, Casquejo said that these were paper jams, printing fails, and faulty Vote Counting Machines (VCM) scanners which won’t be used anymore in the 2025 (midterm) elections.
Another claim was made by a Twitter user who posted a statistical computation about the consistency of voting patterns between Marcos and Robredo, arguing that such results are unlikely to attain.
But then again, there are no irregularities in the partial election results, according to statistics specialists from the University of the Philippines (UP).
Finally, the Philippine National Police (PNP) contends that the ballots in the viral video of police officers tearing pre-shaded ballots were ‘spoiled’.
There may be no concrete evidence to back up these suspicions, but only the elected officials who are involved in the process know the real truth. Good for the Philippines if the elections were truly free and fair. If not, the conscience will always testify.
People have mixed reactions to the results of the elections. Does history really contain different versions? We refuse to believe so. In history, we hold on to the truth. In truth, there are no versions–there shall only be one truth that prevails.
“The Filipinos have decided” is what you’ve probably seen rolling around social media, especially supporters of former senator and now presumptive president Marcos Jr.; with 31,104,175 votes that are 58.74% of 98.55% of the precincts of reporting as of May 13, 2022, 3:18 PM.
“Unity” has been the trademark and promise of Marcos Jr. on his journey throughout the campaign, but what’s next after his proclamation as a president of the Philippines?
Presumptive President Marcos Jr. says that the economy, prices of energy, lack of jobs, education, and infrastructure are going to be his topmost priority in the next few years. However, no plans were laid out. As we recall during the campaigns, his platforms were not emphasized rather the call for unity was much more heard than his plans for the country.
So, what can we expect from this Marcos presidency? Should it be that Filipinos should vote for a President after looking through his credentials and what he can offer to the country? It seems that there is nothing to expect from this presidency as we were not promised anything, to begin with.
At a press conference, Marcos Jr. said he has been in contact with leaders from various countries in order to form a joint venture and develop programs that will benefit the Philippines. They have discussed programs for the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture, climate change, improving technology, and microfinancing for the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME's).
He also intends to appoint professionals in specialized government fields to manage the departments. Programs from the Duterte administration will also be continued such as the Build, Build, Build project and the War on Drugs.
Remembering all the bloodshed at the time of the War on Drugs, the continuation of this project can be crucial when it comes to serving justice. With Sara Duterte as Marcos’ Vice President-elect, chances are that the Marcos presidency will continue the ways of the War on Drugs.
Marcos Jr. may have won in votes but that doesn’t truly make him the Filipinos’ president. As of today, he is the President to have the biggest critics in the history of Philippine presidents. It seems that criticism shall never catch a break from him as long as she carries his late dictator father’s last name.