Dan Steinbock

Opinion | Philippine election offers opportunity to rethink the liberal narrative

International critiques of Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarianism and war on drugs are in stark contrast to the trust he enjoys at home

The People Power movement, of which the Liberal Party has portrayed itself as the institutional embodiment, has failed most Filipinos. Antagonistic relations with China will not help

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Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lipa, Philippines, on April 20. Photo: Reuters

Dan Steinbock

Published: 1:00am, 28 Apr 2022Updated: 2:08am, 28 Apr 2022

Almost everything you have heard about the Philippines in the past six years is fake news. Here is the standard narrative:

After Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential election in the Philippines, the strongman’s violent war on drugs devastated the country. His appeasement of China has derailed Manila’s foreign policy. The 2022 election triumph of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, could further destabilise the status quo.

Here is the real story: During their three decades in control, the liberals failed the People Power movement. Before the Duterte era, drugs were killing the poorest neighbourhoods, corrupting politics and giving rise to “narco-generals”.

Despite the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippine economy has expanded in the Duterte era while foreign investment has increased. Duterte enjoys widespread public trust in the country, and the campaign of Marcos and Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio – the daughter of the incumbent president – will build on his legacy.

Marcos, whose father was president from 1965 to 1986, has garnered a large lead in the presidential polls with around 56 per cent support. His main rival for the job, current Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo, is polling around 23 per cent.

Other candidates for president have only attracted marginal support. With the share of undecided voters shrinking, Marcos appears to be the clear favourite, barring any last-minute dramatic developments. His running mate Duterte enjoys a similar advantage in the race for vice-president, polling at around 58 per cent and holding a lead of more than 30 points on her nearest rival.