I3- The Philippines

Separatism

  • Separatist rebellion in Mindanao by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Southern Philippines.

Strategies

  1.  Military campaigns agst MNLF in 1970s and 1980s.

  1. Negotiations for ceasefire and future autonomy in the 1980s and 1990s under Aquino and Ramos.

=> Successful in keeping Mindanao w/in the Philippines

=> However, while rebellion was militarily suppressed and Moro interests were satisfied through granting of autonomy in 1996, tensions till simmered btw the MNLF and govt.

Political threats

  • Left-wing groups and democratic political leaders agst Marcos’ dictatorship.
    -> UNIDO (United Nationalist Democratic Organisation), coalition of 12 opposition grps put tgthr by Salvador Laurel and Aquino’s Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN), which contested rigged elections to National Assembly in 1978, began to gain ground.
  • Significant opposition from the Catholic Church, esp in the 1980s, which openly criticised regime for heavy-handed treatment of opposition and human rights violations.

Strategies

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  1. Personality—patronage network (Rolex 12); business-state collusion

  1. Depoliticization

  1. New Society movement: Marcos used martial law powers to maintain control in his political ideology of New Society

  1. Feedback loops opened directly to president, enabled Marcos to extend political patronage to masses (pork barrel politics) and promote social quiescence/passivity/silence.

  1. Constitutional processes

  1. Amended constitution

  1. Manipulation of elections

  1. Military suppression of NPA uprising

=> Not successful in preventing regime change in 1986

=> Marcos’ corruption and political manipulation (e.g B. Aquino’s assassination and not respecting C. Aquino’s electoral victory) and w/drawal of US’s support resulted in overthrow of Marcos in People Power Revolution.

Economic threats

Marcos Era

  • Economic problems after initial period of economic growth in 1950s-1960s
  • Reducing poverty and raising SOL for ordinary Filipinos

Strategies

  1. Financial/economic aid from the US (CW factor) 

  2. Reliance on external borrowing to drive domestic export-oriented industrialisation and agricultural reforms.

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=>Economic mismanagement and extensive patronage led to economic ruin

=>Corruption and cronyism led to plunder of state resources

=>Filipino poverty deepened the Marcos era

=>Legitimacy of Marcos regime affected, leading to regime change in 1986.

Post-Marcos Era

  • Economic problems arising from Marcos era
  • Reducing poverty and raising SOL for ordinary Filipinos

Strategies

  • Ramos’ effective economic policies:
    Privatisation of underperforming state enterprises; reform of tax system; reduction of external debt; sensible govt spending
    -> Economic growth reached 6-7% under his stewardship

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=>Filipino poverty reduced but not significantly

=>Corruption and cronyism continued to plague Filipino economy (e.g Estrada era later)

=>However, Presidential Democracy remained intact and stable despite corruption scandals.