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Fast-forward to today, as the proposed 2023 national budget is being railroaded in Congress, the new administration’s priorities are now getting clear. What’s in it for the people? Not much, apparently.
“(These films) are a big chunk of our collective memory as a people of what happened during the Marcos era and these we have to preserve.”
A total of 67 donors contributed P624.7 million to help Ferdinand Marcos Jr. win the presidency, based on his own declarations to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
PCIJ researched each of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s donors to track relevant family, political and business ties. We found that relatives of his father’s known supporters, tycoons and donors who own companies that are barred from making political contributions bankrolled his presidential bid in the May 2022 elections.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas footed 40% of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign bill through party treasurer Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., grandson of his father’s close business associate. The remaining cost was covered by today’s opulent names in real estate, retail, construction, and shipping industries.
"We see this as another attempt to silence criticism and dissent against the state."
"Marcos Jr.'s top priorities are not in sync with what poor Filipinos need – lowering of prices of food and basic commodities, wage hike, contractualization, affordable housing, end to human rights violations and extra-judicial killings, and resumption of peace talks."
The “Tax Reform Act for the Masses and the Middle Class," seeks to exempt those making P33,333 ($590) monthly or less from paying income tax. It is also looking into providing tax breaks for families of persons with disabilities, those caring for elderly parents or relatives, and those with children.
Despite harsh prospects under the Marcos Jr. administration, activists say the fight is not over.
“Marcos, Jr.’s return to Malacanang does not extinguish the crimes and abuses of the Marcos dictatorship. No amount of repetitive playing of Bagong Lipunan will change this bloody record. These will remain historical facts."
“Marcos, Jr. tells us he shares the same dream as the ordinary Filipino but he omits mention of his privileged position."
Marcos Jr. has yet to complete his list of cabinet members but several of those identified have been found to be from the family’s bailiwick, the Ilocos region, or linked to his father's appointees.
Progressive party-list groups vow to be voices of dissent in a chamber that will most likely be a rubber stamp of the incoming administration.
While a 2013 Supreme Court decision ruled that the party-list system is no longer exclusive to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, many party-lists still run under a platform of representing various marginalized sectors.
Instead of providing genuine representation for marginalized sectors, the party-list system has become a tool for political clans to remain in power.
Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appoints red-tagger former Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla as the next Justice Secretary.
The group released its interim report on May 19 noting that this year’s elections were “marred by a higher level of failure of the electronic voting system than ever before, along with rampant vote-buying, disturbing levels of state and military orchestrated red-tagging of candidates and parties including numerous incidents of deadly violence.”
“We assert that a convict, liar, and unrepentant son of an ousted dictator like Marcos Jr. should have never been allowed to run for public office, let alone the highest position in the land. The Supreme Court must uphold truth, justice, and democracy, and heed our calls to disqualify Marcos Jr. now."
“We thus ask the High Court to reverse and set aside the questionable Comelec ruling and to cancel and declare void from the start the certificate of candidacy of Marcos Jr. and in the process, declare him to have never been a candidate in the 2022 national elections."
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