Election of Marcos Jr. raises concerns about erosion of Philippine democracy
PBS NewsHourDec 29, 2021
The Facts
Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. was sworn into office in the Philippines on Thurs., replacing former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. In his inauguration speech, he asked for "national unity" and praised his father and former leader, Ferdinand Marcos.
This comes two days after the Philippine Supreme Court unanimously rejected petitions to disqualify his candidacy for alleged tax violations.
The Spin
Narrative A
The victory of the Marcos-Duterte ticket exposes the fact that political dynasties continue to rule over the Philippines. Marcos Jr. has run huge online disinformation schemes to promote the first Marcos era as a period of stability and development. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that Philippine politicians have long been attacking the press and restraining its freedom.
Narrative B
Bongbong's triumph is one of the people against the Yellow Revolution, a project that failed to serve national interests. Social media has played a crucial role in this victory as it has broken the mainstream press's monopoly over public opinion, allowing ordinary citizens to express their views and question the lies told by the elite in the past.
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