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The newly retired boxing star Manny Pacquiao submitted his Philippine presidential candidate certificate at the beginning of the week-long registration period on Friday. The candidate seeks to lead a Southeast Asian country that has been hit hard by the pandemic and deep political conflict.
Election officials imposed strict restrictions to prevent the October 1-8 registration period from attracting a large number of political supporters and becoming a hotbed of coronavirus infection. In addition to the presidential and vice presidential positions, the May 9, 2022 election will have more than 18,000 national, local, and congressional positions competing.
The Philippines, regarded as the bastion of Asian democracy, has also experienced electoral chaos and violence. In 2009, gunmen deployed by the family of the then governor of Maguindanao Province killed 58 people, including journalists, in an electoral convoy attack that shocked the world.
Approximately 3,000 police officers, including some patrolling in armored police vehicles, were deployed around a waterfront convention center in Manila, where presidential candidates are expected to register.
Candidates can only bring a maximum of three companions when registering candidates to prevent the chaos of past candidates with movie stars, bands, and noisy followers.
James Jimenez, spokesperson for the Election Commission, said: “We do ensure that the documents submitted are sober to a large extent.”
Despite this, hundreds of fans and supporters wearing masks, holding a portrait of Pacquiao and a small Philippine flag lined up on the street leading to the heavily guarded election registration center in Manila Bay to cheer for his convoy.
Many people expect this controversial presidential Rodrigo Duterte (Rodrigo Duterte) campaign will be crowded and politically hostile. Pacquiao, former National Police Chief Panfilo Lakson and Manila Mayor Isco Moreno have announced that they will seek the presidency, and others are expected to run for the election.
The 76-year-old Duterte has accepted the ruling party’s nomination to run for vice president, a move that spurred constitutional debates and shocked those who have long condemned him as an opponent of the human rights disaster.
The President of the Philippines is constitutionally restricted to a single six-year term. A constitutional expert said he will challenge Duterte’s candidacy in the Supreme Court because a successful vice presidential campaign will make him a step in the office again.
For a long time, Western governments and human rights activists led by the United States have been warning Duterte police against illegal drugs. Since taking office in mid-2016, more than 6,000 drug suspects have died, most of them are Hawker. The International Criminal Court is investigating the killing.
Although Duterte is still popular according to opinion polls, drug killings and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic have led to one of the worst economic recessions and widespread unemployment and hunger, which are expected to be key issues in the election.
Activists have long compared Duterte to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was expelled in the 1986 army-backed “People Power” rebellion, which became a global authoritarian regime A harbinger of change. Marcos’ son and former senator of the same name, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., are expected to run for the presidency and receive good support in independent opinion polls.
“The risks of democracy in the Philippines are high,” said Julio Teehankee, an analyst based in Manila.
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