Philippine election: why are overseas Filipinos such big fans of Bongbong Marcos Jnr?

Despite the Philippines' former dictator Ferdinand Marcos plundering government coffers and killing thousands during his rule under martial law, his son's star continues to shine bright in the run-up to the country's presidential election in May.

The support for Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jnr, 64, is especially strong among Philippines' 2.2 million overseas workers.

Before the pandemic that forced thousands to return to the archipelago jobless, they remitted home US$33.5 billion in 2019, constituting almost 10 per cent of the country's GDP.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Marcos Jnr is also polling well among domestic voters in the nation of 110 million. A November Pulse Asia Research survey showed 53 per cent of 2,400 respondents chose him as their preferred successor to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Vice-President Leni Robredo, the opposition leader, came a distant second with 20 per cent. Marcos Jnr, a former senator, ran unsuccessfully against Robredo for the vice-presidency in 2016, a defeat he challenged in the courts. The Supreme Court dismissed his legal petition earlier this year.

For Filipino workers abroad, Marcos' alliance with Duterte's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio is fuelling hope of success at the polls. She led the vice-presidential race with 45 per cent of respondents supporting her in the Pulse Asia survey.

"We've known the family for so long. Whatever those who vilify him say, we wouldn't believe them [as] we have our faith in Bongbong," said Cherry Querubin, who started a Facebook page last month for Marcos Jnr and Duterte-Carpio's supporters in Japan.

The 51-year-old carer said that her group, which currently has 1,600 members, aims to "spread what Bongbong has been doing for the country", noting his disaster relief efforts in 2013 when the ex-Ilocos Norte governor actively raised funds to support survivors of Typhoon Haiyan that killed more than 7,300 people.

On Marcos Snr, who placed the country under martial law in 1972 so he could rule by decree for the next 14 years, Querubin said: "There was a reason why his father enacted martial law. And the one running now is the son and not the father, right?

"Their dynasty is full of hope, the Dutertes' political strategy goes hand in hand with the Marcoses' plans.

"It's a perfect partnership - all for the people," added Querubin, who has been living in Japan for more than a decade.

Dozens of pro-Marcos groups have emerged overseas, including in Hong Kong, where they have organised events to rally support for their political leaders. More than 130,000 Filipinos call the Asian financial hub home, with some 47,000 voting in the 2016 presidential election.

Michaela Romero, a domestic worker in Hong Kong, said that charisma was one of the reasons why overseas workers supported the Marcos and Duterte-Carpio combo.

"When I see photos of [Sara] with Bongbong, it's like I'm watching a telenovela," said Romero, who recently attended a gathering in the city that drew dozens of Marcos Jnr supporters.

"[Bongbong] is so well-mannered. Sara is my idol - she's very brave, protects the people, has a good heart," added the 45-year-old, an overseas worker of 12 years.

Like Romero, Filipinos at home and abroad have turned to social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to express support for their preferred candidates. It has sparked questions about whether positive posts on the contenders are part of an organised publicity campaign or the true views of fans.

The strategy has also drawn attention to the issue of disinformation circulating online and through messaging apps. The hashtag with Marcos Jnr's name on the short video-sharing app TikTok is leading other candidates with 1.4 billion views, and clips describe his father as "the best president of the Philippines".

Political analyst Jorge Tigno said the tandem's popularity should be credited to their well-coordinated campaign devised by managers and media advisers.

"A lot of pro-Marcos narratives are circulated heavily on social media - much of this is consumed by Filipinos overseas," said Tigno, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

With many supporters sporting merchandise and red shirts in solidarity with the former congressman, Tigno said that colour coordination compensates for the country's "weak or virtually nonexistent" party system.

He added that candidates who have yet to choose a platform benefit from being associated with a colour, which ultimately "simplifies things for voters".

The legacy of Marcos Snr and his contentious time in office has not tarnished perceptions of his son. Neither has the late dictator's involvement in a scheme to promote overseas labour through a charter in 1974, believing remittances from Filipinos abroad would benefit the country.

To automotive worker Jemar Legal, Marcos Snr did what was necessary and would "never have declared martial law if it wasn't needed".

"There were many people who wanted to seize our country," he said, referring to the long-time leader's claim that there was an impending takeover by communist insurgents, which prompted him to suspend civil rights.

Legal, who is based in Saudi Arabia, runs a YouTube channel where he shares his views about Marcos Jnr with some 100,000 subscribers.

"I promote Bongbong because that's my belief. There are many experts, but sometimes they are just wrong," Legal said, adding that he has "never accepted money from politicians".

"Those who say Bongbong doesn't have a platform - are you deaf or blind?"

Marcos Jnr and his party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (Federal Party of the Philippines), have also been quick to capitalise on a valuable support base as next year's election nears.

In October, they announced a slew of proposals, including setting up an OFW hospital and bank and ratifying a comprehensive benefits and retirement plan, The Manila Bulletin reported.

Meanwhile, Duterte passed a law in December to establish the Department of Migrant Workers, a government agency dedicated to improving the welfare of Filipino workers abroad.

Marcos Jnr hailed the move as an "institutional love letter" to overseas labourers, adding that it would address long-standing issues faced by them.

Guillermo Maliones, a Singapore-based technician, said he hoped Marcos Jnr would fix the country's mounting economic woes so Filipinos "wouldn't have to leave for jobs far away".

"I am hoping for more investors in our country so that Filipinos don't need to work abroad," he said.

"People have woken up to the [mistakes] of the past administrations. We're a country rich with natural resources, I don't want the concept of OFW any more."

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.