Time - USA (2022-05-23)

(Antfer) #1
13

Longest shot
Rich Strike, left, an 80-1 outsider, won the Kentucky Derby on May 7 in one of the biggest
underdog victories in racing history. The horse was only admitted to the race at the last
minute, after a competitor had dropped out. Rich Strike was in 18th place at one point in the
race, but kept his pace to take the victory as others lared out. Asked the horse’s owner, Rick
Dawson, after the race, “What planet is this?”

THE BULLETIN
The meaning of the Marcos family’s return to power

Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr.,
son of the Philippines’ late dictator, is set
to become the country’s next President.
The almost 31 million votes tallied for the
64-year-old Marcos by May 10 was more
than double those for his closest rival, with
only 3% of the vote uncounted.

BLOODY LEGACY Marcos’ father Ferdi-
nand Marcos Sr. ruled the Southeast Asian
nation of 110 million for 21 years before
being ousted in 1986. The elder Marcos
tore up presidential term limits; imposed
nine years of martial law; and brutally
quashed political dissent, jailing and kill-
ing thousands of his opponents. He and his
wife Imelda embezzled as much as up to
$10 billion from state cofers. A citizen up-
rising drove the family into exile in Hawaii,
where the elder Marcos died in 1989.

REHABILITATION Experts say that the Mar-
cos family’s comeback relects voters’ frus-
tration at the failure of successive govern-
ments to alleviate long- standing problems

like poverty. Misinformation on social net-
works helped to whitewash the family—as
did the youthful electorate. Some 56% of
voters were either not yet born, or small
children, when Marcos Jr.’s father was in
power. By choosing Sara Duterte-Carpio—
daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo
Duterte—as his running mate, Marcos also
united the political machinery of the two
most prominent dynasties.

HISTORY REWRITTEN Critics fear that Mar-
cos will continue whitewashing the past by
exerting authority over institutions that are
investigating his family’s ill- gotten wealth.
He will also have the power to appoint the
head of the country’s human-rights commis-
sion, despite his previous attempts to create
doubt over well- documented rights viola-
tions during his father’s rule. The dynastic
nature of Philippine politics will also be-
come more entrenched. Rights advocate An-
tonio La Viña says Marcos’ victory is about
“cementing the ruling class.”
—chad de guzMan

NEWS TICKER

fatally shot in the
head by Israeli forces

G-7 nations raised
concerns about the
election process

ordered troops
to shoot protesters
who threaten people or
property.

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