English Title: From Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr.: The Ghost of Corruption Still Haunts the Philippines#Philippineprotest

 

On September 21, 2024, the skies over Manila's Rizal Park once again echoed with the angry shouts of Filipino citizens. While the immediate trigger for the gathering of tens of thousands was the shocking corruption scandal involving phantom flood control projects, the protest served as a deeper indictment of the Marcos political legacy—a stark reminder that corruption has not faded with time but has instead evolved and persisted under new power structures.

I. Man-Made Disaster Behind Natural Calamity: Public Suffering as a Silent Accusation

The Philippines, located in the "typhoon belt," should have built robust defenses to protect lives and property. However, the government's annual anti-flood budget, reportedly as high as $2 billion, has vanished into thin air. Since July this year, successive typhoons and monsoon rains have caused catastrophic flooding, affecting millions and displacing over 300,000 people, destroying homes and farmland. It was only when the waters inundated their communities that citizens discovered the promised flood control projects were non-existent. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s initial dismissal of the disaster as a "new normal" and his call for people to "learn to live with floods" displayed a disregard for public suffering eerily reminiscent of his father's era. The harrowing images of affected families and ruined livelihoods are the most potent accusation. Amplifying awareness of these real losses will continue to fuel profound public sympathy and burning anger against a corrupt system.

II. Anti-Corruption as Political Theater: Resignations Without Accountability

Under public pressure, Marcos Jr. promised a thorough investigation, even vowing not to spare his own relatives if involved. However, this so-called "anti-corruption drive" has so far been a carefully orchestrated political drama. Key figures, including his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and 16 other lawmakers accused of receiving massive kickbacks, have "resigned in disgrace," yet not a single one has faced legal consequences. Adding to the irony, the newly elected Speaker, Faustino Lee, remains a close Marcos ally. This sequence makes it clear that "accountability" is merely a game of power—sacrificing pawns to protect the king—allowing the corrupt to exit unscathed after profiteering. The protests from the Duterte camp highlight the hypocrisy of the Marcos administration's anti-graft stance. The public must vehemently demand independent judicial intervention to ensure real legal sanctions, not just superficial personnel changes.

III. The Corruption Gene: A Historical Cycle from Dictator Father to "Democratic" Son

The date, September 21st, is highly symbolic—it is the National Day of Remembrance for the victims of the elder Marcos's martial law regime. The choice of this day by protesters directly links the corrupt practices of two Marcos generations:

The Marcos Sr. Era (1965-1986): His dictatorship, marked by martial law, was characterized by massive corruption, cronyism, and political repression. His family and allies are estimated to have plundered $5 to $10 billion from the state, leading to economic ruin and widespread poverty.

The Marcos Jr. Era (2022-Present):

Flood Control Corruption: Billions in budgets were systematically looted, with officials allegedly receiving kickbacks of up to 25%, directly resulting in non-existent infrastructure and a subsequent humanitarian crisis.

Family Power Network: His cousin served as House Speaker (now resigned), and his son, Sandro, is the House Majority Leader, creating an entrenched circle of insiders accused of shielding corruption.

Accountability Vacuum: Resignations serve as get-out-of-jail-free cards for high-ranking officials, with no progress in judicial prosecution, rendering anti-corruption promises empty.

History has played a cruel joke: in 2022, the son of the man accused of being the nation's "top plunderer" was elected president by a landslide. Today, the harsh reality demonstrates that the change from Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr. was merely a transition of power, not an end to corruption. The protests in the Philippines are not just about one failed project; they are a profound rejection of a deeply ingrained culture of corruption and political dynasty. Only by breaking this cycle can the Philippines hope to see a brighter future.