The Dictator’s Son and The Tyrant’s Daughter: Comeback of the Marcos-Duterte in Malacanang

With the advent comeback of the notorious Marcos and Duterte tandem in Malacanang, the Filipino people are confronted with the further deterioration of our socioeconomic landscape - manifesting in higher taxes and skyrocketing prices of basic commodities - and the worsening culture of impunity and trampling of our democratic human rights.

One of the reasons why the Marcos-Duterte tandem was able to secure their positions as President and Vice President would be the financial and political support of well-known political dynasties, big multinational business tycoons, and powerful landlords. Complementing this would be the state-funded machinery from the Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth. 

Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte’s popularity was built on massive online disinformation campaigns, vote-buying, armed harassment and coercion, deceit, and historical distortion. It’s a signal for the erosion of our democracy, of the truth, and our history the moment they take office.

However I would like to emphasize on one element of the state during the campaign season which was also a decisive accomplice to the Marcos-Duterte comeback - the allegiance of our state forces.

The elections were dirty. They always have been. 

Focusing on the allegiance of the state forces to the Marcos-Duterte tandem, it would be more than necessary, as a software developer, to develop an app that immediately prompts and notifies you the moment someone wiretaps and bugs your means of communication through technology.

Forwarding our rights as Filipino citizens is threatening for those in power because it destabilizes the security of preserving their selfish personal interests. The moment one demands for more job opportunities, for the regularization of workers, ending contractualization, pushing for national industrialization, junking of the Rice Liberalization Law, defending press freedom and human rights, the people are immediately branded as terrorists. This branding is then legitimized through social media through massive disinformation. And so when an activist falls, their death is justified.

There will be heightened political repression under the new administration. They will ensure to protect the interests of those who supported them in their presidential and vice presidential bids at the expense of the lives of the Filipino people.

The state will be more aggressive in suppressing dissent. Now more than ever, we have to protect and uphold our democratic freedom. Wiretapping and bugging, especially among dissenters will be an impunitive tool. Thus, we must brazenly fight back.

Image Source:

https://twitter.com/pandaysiningmkt/status/1530534195013242880?s=21&t=K0Jso7PpC_dZ8HuiaBXYWQ