The Philippines chose two mega-dynasties to lead together. Now it’s a family feud. | Semafor
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The political marriage between the Marcos and Duterte families is on the rocks.
    • Paragone@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      Yeah:

      I remember the polls were reporting that after the 1st few poll-stations reported, then suddenly ALL the poll-stations were reporting that 2/3rds of the votes were for the guy who won, & there was no variation anymore.

      You can’t get more fake than that.

      _ /\ _

  • megane-kun@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    3 months ago

    Their “unity” is a lie. Even among the supporters of the Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte tandem, it is viewed as nothing more than a marriage of convenience. But when it stopped being convenient, it’s back to the usual mudslinging.

    I’d also be wary of Duterte’s promises with regards to China.

    In the 2016 election, one of his campaign promises involved going by jet ski onto the disputed islands to personally protect them, a promise he later dismissed as just an empty promise and mocked those who bought into it as stupid. His promise of pushing a claim cited in the OP article might as well be one of those empty promises made to increase their dynasty’s chances of winning the elections. Their actions show where their priorities and loyalties lie. What was promised to be a “protect our islands” stance, turned out to be an “embrace China” stance.

    Marcos Jr. isn’t in the clear either, with the Marcos dynasty trying to whitewash and erase from history their wrongdoing.

    Moreover, his 20 PhP (~0.33 USD) per kilogram of rice promise is just as ridiculous as Duterte’s Jet ski promise. As with Duterte’s jetski, Marcos delivered a ~600 PhP (~10 USD) per kilogram of onions reality instead and later on, dropping to ~20 PhP / kg (~0.33 USD / kg) as local onion farmers had their harvests.

    Of note here is the fact that the Marcos Jr. held the post of Secretary of Agriculture at the same time as him being President until November 2023. Meanwhile, the price of (well-milled) rice is around 60 PhP (~1 USD) per kilogram—thrice what was promised. For context, the average daily wage is around 620 PhP (~10.33 USD).

    Not that Duterte had the best handling of the economy, it was however, overshadowed by his bombastic statements and pro-China stance.

    I personally would have enjoyed watching their (word) war of the dynasties if it were not for the healthy chance that one of them would win (because any politician opposed to both practically obliterated and rendered irrelevant).

    NOTE:

    All currency conversions were made assuming 1USD = 60PhP