To those who still don’t get why Ferdinand Marcos is no hero, this one’s for you:
Cliff Notes for fuggedabout it Filipinos
By Alan Robles
One so-called argument from Marcos loyalists or fuggedabout it Filipinos is that “Marcos was no worse than other presidents.” WRONG. Marcos was the WORST president the country ever had, for the following reasons.
Politics has always has been a musical chair for the elite, but Marcos froze the game and refused to get up from the chair. He had absolutely no intention of stepping down – he destroyed whatever democracy there was and turned the country into a dynastic autocracy. He planned to appoint Imelda as his successor.
He helped himself to a huge chunk of powers that violated the constitution, and put him beyond accountability. He fashioned the constitution to his liking and gave himself decree making powers that completely rubbished any notion of democracy. He used these powers to kill, torture, and steal for the benefit of his family and friends. Read the human rights reports of the US and Amnesty International during Martial Law. The word “salvage” originated from Martial Law. His regime killed thousands and tortured thousands more.
He ruined and pissed on institutions such as the judiciary, legislative, military, finance and civil service. If many citizens now have little or no trust in these institutions, blame Marcos. He packed them with his flunkies and relatives, and those institutions rushed to perform his every bidding. There is a famous photo of a supreme court justice cravenly holding an umbrella over Imelda’s head, real independent eh?
He divided the country’s economy — the people’s taxes, the country’s wealth, the national bank — between himself, his family and cronies. Imelda used OUR money to buy condos abroad and finance scores of million-dollar shopping sprees. The receipts exist. The Marcos’ stolen wealth is estimated to be at least US$ 10 billion
Aside from being a murderer and thief and torturer he was a colossal liar. He fabricated a war record which insulted the country’s real war heroes. His regime lied regularly and non-stop: lied about human rights; lied about economic indicators; lied about the dictator’s health
Imagine a creature combining Arroyo and Ampatuan. Multiply the malevolence a hundredfold. You get Marcos.
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11 Comments on "Marcos in brief"
Short good read, the last line though is trash, just like your idol Erap. Have you made that last line as part of your opening, I wouldn’t have cared to read your article. What a waste.
Hi, Hen.
If you want to know what Alan’s attitude is towards Erap Estrada, read this:
http://hotmanila.ph/ESP/2000/loco_vs_bobo0300111.htm
Dear Evangeline,
You are right about the judge holding Imelda Marcos’ umbrella. He was not an ordinary judge. He was THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT – the Honorable Enrique M. Fernando.
Thank you for reading. And please pass it on to your friends and relatives so the truth may be known,
Raissa
I have been trying to get the images/photo of the chief justice Fernando holding umbrella for Imelda Marcos at internet, but to no avail. had the Marcos deleted every photo of that from the web? Wish you can redirect me where to get a copy of that iconic picture. i want it be framed and display it in our living room, to remind everyone who will see it will think twice in getting Marcos back in Malacanan
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me, too
Bakit ba kailangan pang pag-isipan kung ililibing si Marcos sa libingan ng mga bayani e kahit na sino ang tanungin mo under Marcos regime e dudura lang at mumurahin yang si Marcos. Obvious naman na may perang gumagalaw (take note pera ng mga Pilipino yan) para mailibing sya! Teka muna, e di ba wax na lang yan! %$#!!!! nya!
Sa mga magde-decide to bury Marcos sa libingan ng mga bayani, mag-isip-isip kayo kung meron pa kayo nyan. Maawa kayo sa mga Pilipino at mga kaanak nyo (kung meron kayong mga supling na magdadala ng pangalan nyo). You will be marked and bear that decision until you die and as a legacy it will be passed on to your children and your future generation na isa rin kayo sa mga tumanggap ng pera galing sa kinupit ni Marcos sa kaban ng bayan.
[…] instance, in my piece entitled Marcos in brief I received the following comment: Hmmm…but maybe we should start looking at how the incumbent […]