Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Marcos in brief

Share:

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.

____________________

Related Stories

Why I write

Why the Marcoses want Ferdinand buried a hero

Marcos’ proof for his war medals was a book on goldfish and plants

Meet the REAL  Marcos

Noynoy Aquino rejected a hero’s burial for Marcos during his pres’l campaign

Bongbong Marcos replies to me: The Presidency? “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. I have seen that there was always someone holding Imelda´s umbrella, but to let a judge hold it for her is a real insult to the judge. She was in the movie Manila 1& 2 having a servant to put on even her shoes. I am disgusted by that. The Queen of Sweden & the Royalties of UK holds their own umbrella.

    I am more and more becoming an unforgiving person, now that we are able to read the truth from people like you, Raissa– who have made good sacrifices of time and energy to let us know what happened in our history. Thank you for letting us know.

    • 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

      • May I just add, this one as old as any other: there was a judge CFI pa noon sa Visayas who was, together with other judges of same rank, to be “escorts” for the beauty contestants Miss Universe yata yun during the contestants stay in the city. This particular judge, said NO! I will not do such a thing. It is so degrading for me. But, he said, BUT, if I will carry my assigned contestant on my shoulders in piggy-back style of riding in her bikina attired, I will surely be her escort for the duration. Only on that condition I will “degrade” my rank as a judge. Of course, he never got to get that escort services he proposed.

      • 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
        .

  4. ALAN, IT IS THE TRUTH I WAS AND UNTIL NOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOVEMENT FOR A FREE PHILIPPINES , AND ALSO NINOY AQUINO MOVEMENT ALL LAUNCHED IN CHICAGO, INCHARGE OF THE MODWEST, THAT FVR SAID, ” IS THE MOST CREDIBLE AND BIGGEST OPPOSITION OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES” QUOTE UNQUOTE. HE WAS A MONSTER NOT WORTHY OF ANY THING MUCH MORE BURIED IN THE HEROES GRAVEYARDS,! THE WIFE AND THE SIBLINGS ARE JUST SO LUCKY THAT FILIPINOS ARE SO FORGIVING AND FOR THOSE LIKE ME IS NOT YET READY TO RETALIATE BUT EVENTUALLY PEOPLE WILL RISE UP IF THEY WILL NOT STOP ABUSING AND INSULTING US REAL PILIPINOS THE OPPRESSED…. THY WILL BE DONE!

  5. 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.

Trackbacks