Before assuming the presidency, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heard a familiar plea from his sister, Senator Imee Marcos: a chance to finally “clarify” their father’s controversial legacy. It wasn’t about reclaiming power, she insisted, but about rescuing the family name from decades of scrutiny and debate – a name burdened by history.
Upon taking office, President Marcos Jr. echoed a sentiment from his past, recalling his father’s vision for a nation brimming with potential yet mired in poverty. He spoke of roads built, rice produced, and a determined leader who overcame obstacles, with or without support – a narrative carefully constructed to reshape perceptions.
In a global forum, Marcos Jr. revealed a surprising initial reluctance towards politics. He witnessed firsthand the sacrifices his father endured, yet felt compelled to enter the arena after their family’s exile. The driving force, he stated, wasn’t public service, but the defense of his father’s legacy and the family’s very survival.
The shadow of the past looms large, particularly the infamous Guinness World Record acknowledging Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s “greatest robbery of a government.” For three years, the family has had the opportunity to address accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, dismissing them all as mere “political propaganda.” This, however, falls far short of genuine clarification.
The accusations of widespread corruption aren’t based on conjecture. They are supported by the testimonies of those complicit in the plunder and backed by irrefutable documentary evidence. Similarly, the documented accounts of torture survivors and the confessions of perpetrators validate the claims of rampant human rights violations during martial law.
The past cannot be rewritten. The Marcos name will forever be linked to a turbulent period in Philippine history. As Imee Marcos herself acknowledged, the name will remain controversial, a constant reminder of a deeply divided past.
The entry of both Imee and Bongbong into politics, ostensibly to protect the family, may ironically mark the beginning of the end for the Marcos dynasty’s influence on the national stage. Their attempt to control the narrative is unraveling.
Marcos Jr.’s campaign centered on a message of national unity, a subtle call to move past the painful realities of his father’s regime and embrace a nostalgic vision of a “Golden Era.” Imee Marcos confidently predicted a time to demonstrate what they could still achieve for the country.
Yet, despite promises and pronouncements, substantive policy initiatives have been conspicuously absent. A comprehensive plan for economic transformation remains elusive, leaving many questioning the direction of the administration.
The promise of P20 per kilo of rice, a cornerstone of the campaign, remains unfulfilled. Despite vows to implement price controls and streamline procurement, current market prices remain significantly higher, a stark contrast to the pledged affordability.
Similarly, the ambitious Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, aiming to build six million low-cost housing units, has fallen short of expectations. Initial targets have been revised downwards, with only a fraction of the promised units completed as of late 2025.
A public pledge to swiftly address corruption in flood control projects, promising arrests before Christmas, also went unfulfilled. Despite strong public expectation and accusations leveled against prominent senators, no legal action materialized.
Recent surveys reveal a troubling decline in public trust. A net trust rating of -3% signals a growing dissatisfaction with the administration, a trend likely to worsen in the coming months.
Adding to the turmoil, Senator Imee Marcos ignited a public scandal by accusing her brother and his wife of illegal drug use during an INC rally. This desperate attempt to destabilize the government was widely condemned as “un-Filipino” and a betrayal of family loyalty.
The outburst proved politically damaging, alienating Marcos loyalists who questioned her motives and trustworthiness. Her emotional display was deemed inappropriate and juvenile, ultimately leading to the premature conclusion of the INC rally.
The Marcos political dynasty appears to be nearing its final chapter. With the terms of both President Bongbong Marcos and Senator Imee Marcos set to expire in 2028 and 2030 respectively, the era of the Marcos family in national politics is drawing to a close.
