The Church-Business-Aquino Daisy Chain of Philippine

Politics.
 Ferdinand Marcos
Widely perceived to have:

 Illegitimately extended his term

in office.

 Tolerated/encouraged human
rights abuses.

 Tolerated/encouraged
corruption and fraud by family,
political, and business associates.

 Grossly misused his office for

great personal profit.

 A spouse taking advantage of

her position for great personal
profit.
Opposition to Marcos is
divided and ineffectual.
Benigno S. “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr.

 Traditional dynastic
politician with no real populist
credentials.

 Gained significant influence

and leading opposition status
through carefully cultivating
appeal with the masa.
 1983:
Ninoy
Aquino
Assassinated
Church--Business Oligarchy
Church
 Marginalized by Marcos
through nationalization
of businesses, financial
and political threats to
Church autonomy.

 Laurel deferment was

price for their backing of
Cory Aquino.
 Salvador “Doy
“Doy”” Laurel
Reasonably qualified
and experienced
candidate for President.

 Stepped aside in order

to allow standard-bearer
to benefit from sympathy
vote.
Corazon C. “Cory” Aquino

 Weak,inexperienced
candidate for President.

 Owed position to
sympathy vote and backing
of oligarchy.
 1986:
Widespread
Election Fraud
Favoring Marcos
+ Failed Coup
Attempt
 “People
Power”
Instigated by
Aquino
Backers
 Cory Aquino returns
nationalized businesses to
oligarchs’ control, and permits
economic protectionism and
temporal influence of the
Church to be enshrined in the
1987 Constitution as a quid pro
quo for the Church-
Church-Business
Oligarchy’s having installed her
in office.
Gloria Macapagal
Macapagal--Arroyo
Widely perceived to have:

 Illegitimately extended her

term in office.

 Tolerated/encouraged human
rights abuses.

 Tolerated/encouraged
corruption and fraud by family,
political, and business
associates.

 Grossly misused her office for

great personal profit.

 A spouse taking advantage of

his position for great personal
profit.
Opposition to Arroyo is
divided and ineffectual.
 2009:
Cory Aquino
Dies.
Benigno S. “Noynoy
“Noynoy”” Aquino, III

 Traditional dynastic
politician with no real populist
credentials.

 Gained significant influence

and leading opposition status
through carefully cultivating
appeal with the masa.
Church--Business Oligarchy
Church
 Marginalized by Arroyo
through increased
engagement with ASEAN and
China, liberalization of some
sectors like mining.

 Roxas deferment was price

for their backing of Noynoy
Aquino.
 Manuel “Mar” Roxas
 Reasonably qualified and
experienced candidate for
President.

 Stepped aside in order to allow

standard-bearer to benefit from
sympathy vote.
Benigno S. “Noynoy
“Noynoy”” Aquino, III

 Weak, inexperienced
candidate for President.

 Owes position to sympathy

vote and backing of oligarchy.
 2010:
“Failure” of
Elections??
 “People
Power”
Instigated by
Aquino
Backers?
Noynoy Aquino’s quid pro
quo for the Church-
Church-
Business Oligarchy’s
installing him in office is
yet to be determined.