OPINION | Will Marcos follow in his father’s footsteps?

February 24, 2025 , 06:30 PM

By Manny Mogato

Will Marcos Jr follow in his father’s footsteps?

(February 24, 2024) – Probably not, it sounds ridiculous. When an old man with dictatorial tendencies said it as fact, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Former strongman Rodrigo Duterte has been trying to claw back to power through his daughter, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio. Although her numbers are down, she remained formidable by 2028, topping pre-election surveys.

When Bongbong Marcos Jr. sought the presidency in May 2022, he was probably only after redemption, restoring the family’s dignity and honor taken away almost 40 years ago by a popular uprising.

His father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and his entire family hastily fled Malacañang Palace, whisked by American helicopters to an airbase in Pampanga before departing for Hawaii.

Thirty-nine years ago, on a dark February 25 night, Marcos Sr. threw in the towel, ending four days of a nervous stand-off between forces loyal to the president and mutinous forces of defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos.

Enrile’s gamble paid off. He and his cabal of military officers had planned a coup, taking advantage of Marcos Sr.’s deteriorating health and people’s anger at the results of the snap election, which Enrlle admitted helped rig the balloting.

But the plot was discovered. They were about to be arrested when Enrile hastily called a news conference to announce the breakaway from Marcos. Ramos, a highly respected United States-trained general, joined the defense secretary.

Enrile and the coup plotters were only saved from the gallows by millions of Filipinos who were fed up with Marcos Sr.’s 20-year repression and massive corruption. They gathered outside Camps Aguinaldo and Crame to protect Enrile and Ramos. The rest is history.

The EDSA People Power uprising was a big embarrassment for an ailing strongman. He never saw it coming. It was a spontaneous and instant revolt. It was not planned.

Does Marcos Jr. want to relive the traumatic four February days in 1986?

In his latest tirade of the president, Duterte accused Marcos of planning to stay in power beyond his six-year single term, following the footsteps of his late father.

Duterte must have a crystal ball to predict Marcos’ future political plans. Duterte was already hitting Marcos this early to ensure his daughter would rise to power in 2028.

Of course, he knew Marcos would not want to prolong his stay in power beyond 2028. He has already redeemed the family’s honor. He was only after leaving behind a respectable legacy, not tainted by blood, corruption, and incompetence.

But it is difficult to control the people around him. In Philippine politics, presidents repay the political debts incurred during elections, every favor, big or small, every peso, every centavo of it.

It was a tragedy that befell former presidents, from Cory Aquino, Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, and Noynoy Aquino III to Duterte.

Thus, they became hostages to political clans controlling the country even if they were from the same political clans.

It’s a vicious cycle that prevents the country from moving, achieving its full potential, and reaching greater heights.

Marcos Jr. may have good intentions to leave a kind legacy, different from his father, but he has to dance and play with political gods to protect his interests.

The saddest part, no one on the horizon could succeed him and offer protection after he steps down from power.

It could be among the reasons Duterte has started attacking the president. The 2028 presidential elections may be far away but politicians have started positioning.

The views expressed by the columnist do not necessarily reflect that of the media organization.

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