May 10, 2022
Cited article by Karen Lema and Tom Allard, Reuters
HRRC is disheartened by the outcome of the presidential election in the Philippines. An earlier publication detailed the human rights concerns should Ferdinand Marcos Jr. be elected to office. The previous administration under President Rodrigo Duterte committed grave human rights abuses, and HRRC is concerned that, given the history of the Marcos family's rule, Marcos Jr. will continue the harsh treatment of critics and contribute to the deterioration of human rights within the country.
Article Summary
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. won the presidential election in the Philippines. This victory brings significant concerns regarding human rights for the country. It has been 36 years since Marcos Jr.'s father lost the election after his brutal reign, which forced the entire Marcos family to flee the country. At the time of election, Marcos Jr.'s father was found guilty of plundering the country of $10 billion and committing countless human rights abuses, many of which were carried out during his 20 years in power.
Those who celebrated the ousting of the Marcos family are left bewildered and confused by the family's return to power. However, with the corrupt governmental parties running the country since Marcos reign ended, the family was allowed to return in 1991. The Marcos family quickly re-integrated themselves into politics and utilized the economic struggles and social media to appeal to younger voters who may not have had strong memories of the human rights abuses committed by the previous generation.