Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (September 11, 1917–September 28, 1989) was the tenth President of the Philippines, serving from 1965 to 1986. As president, he instituted an authoritarian regime that allowed him to stay in power. He was removed from office by the peaceful EDSA Revolution in 1986.

Downfall of Marcos

During these years, his regime was marred by widespread corruption and political mismanagement by his cronies, which culminated with the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.. Marcos can be considered the quintessential kleptocrat, having supposedly looted billions of dollars from the Filipino treasury. Much of the lost sum has yet to be accounted for. He was also a notorious nepotist, appointing family members and close friends to high positions in his government. This practice led to widespread political mismanagement especially during the 1980's, when Marcos was mortally ill with lupus and was in and out of office. A Mount Rushmore-esque bust of himself, commissioned by his Tourism Minister Jose Aspiras as an act of friendship, was carved into a hillside, and was subsequently destroyed by suspected communist rebels. During his third term, Marcos's health was poor due to kidney ailments. He was absent for weeks at a time to undergo treatment, with no one to assume his post. Many people questioned if he was still in a capacity to govern, due to grave illness and growing political unrest. In light of these growing problems, the assassination of Aquino in 1983 would later prove to be the catalyst that would lead to the overthrow of Marcos.

Related Topics:
Benigno Aquino Jr. - Kleptocrat - Nepotist - Lupus - Mount Rushmore

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In the face of escalating public discontent and under pressure from foreign allies, Marcos called for a snap election in 1986. He declared Arturo Tolentino as his running mate. The opposition united behind Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino and her running mate, Salvador Laurel. Both Marcos and Aquino declared themselves winners, the administration and opposition accusing each other of rigging the elections. Popular sentiment sided with Aquino, leading to a massive, multisectoral congregation of protesters, and the gradual defection of the military to Aquino (led by then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile whose arrest for graft and corruption charges was about to be served and Fidel Ramos, then-military vice-chief). This "People Power movement" (see EDSA Revolution) drove Marcos into exile, and installed Corazon Aquino as president.

Related Topics:
Arturo Tolentino - Corazon Aquino - Salvador Laurel - Juan Ponce Enrile - Fidel Ramos - People Power - EDSA Revolution

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Marcos and his wife, Imelda Marcos, went into exile in Hawaii and were later indicted for embezzlement in the United States. Marcos died in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1989 of kidney failure. He was interred in a private mausoleum at Byodo-In Temple on the island of Oahu, visited daily by the Marcos family and friends. The late strongman's remains are currently interred inside a refrigerated crypt in Ilocos Norte, where his son, Ferdinand, Jr., and daughter, Imee, have since become the local governor and representative, respectively. Imelda Marcos was acquitted of embezzlement by a U.S. court in 1990, and was likewise acquitted of graft charges by a Philippine court in 1998.

Related Topics:
Imelda Marcos - Hawaii - Embezzlement - Honolulu, Hawaii - 1989 - Byodo-In Temple - Ilocos Norte - Ferdinand, Jr. - Imee - 1990 - Graft - 1998

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