Ferdinand Marcos Jr to win presidency of Philippines

What strange times we live in. I don't usually pay a lot of attention to the politics of other countries, so this headline took me by surprise:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr on cusp of winning landslide in Philippines elections

He looks a lot like his father too. Do Filipinos have fond memories of the former dictator?

I'm sure that most of us have heard the name, but here's a history refresher in case it has faded from your memory:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos

Quote:

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr., (/ˈmɑːrkɔːs/,[6] September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator,[7][8][9] and kleptocrat[10][11][12] who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial law from 1972 until 1981[13] and kept most of his martial law powers until he was deposed in 1986, branding his rule as "constitutional authoritarianism"[14][15]: 414  under his Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement). One of the most controversial leaders of the 20th century, Marcos' rule was infamous for its corruption,[16][17][18] extravagance,[19][20][21] and brutality.[22][23][24] Marcos gained political success by claiming to have been the "most decorated war hero in the Philippines",[25] but many of his claims have been found to be false,[26][27][28] with United States Army documents describing his wartime claims as "fraudulent" and "absurd".[29][30] After World War II, he became a lawyer then served in the Philippine House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the Philippine Senate from 1959 to 1965. He was elected the President of the Philippines in 1965 and presided over an economy that grew during the beginning of his 20-year rule[31] but would end in the loss of livelihood, extreme poverty,[32][33] and a crushing debt crisis.[34][33] He pursued an aggressive program of infrastructure development funded by foreign debt,[35][36] making him popular during his first term, although it would also trigger an inflationary crisis which would lead to social unrest in his second term.[37][38] Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law on September 23, 1972,[39][40] shortly before the end of his second term. Martial law was ratified in 1973 through a fraudulent referendum.[41] The Constitution was revised, media outlets were silenced,[42] and violence and oppression were used[24] against the political opposition,[43][44] Muslims,[45] suspected communists,[46][47] and ordinary citizens.[44] After being elected for a third term in the 1981 Philippine presidential election, Marcos's popularity suffered greatly, due to the economic collapse that began in early 1983 and the public outrage over the assassination of opposition leader Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. later that year. This discontent, the resulting resurgence of the opposition in the 1984 Philippine parliamentary election, and the discovery of documents exposing his financial accounts and false war records led Marcos to call the snap election of 1986. Allegations of mass cheating, political turmoil, and human rights abuses led to the People Power Revolution of February 1986, which removed him from power.[48] To avoid what could have been a military confrontation in Manila between pro- and anti-Marcos troops, Marcos was advised by US President Ronald Reagan through Senator Paul Laxalt to "cut and cut cleanly."[49] Marcos then fled with his family to Hawaii.[50] He was succeeded as president by Aquino's widow, Corazon "Cory" Aquino.[51][52][53]

So he was a brutal and corrupt dictator whose policies led to economic collapse. But at least he was anti-communist. :rolleyes: And now they want to make his son president?

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