The Philippines has little democracy and rule of law left. Marcos’s Drama #MarcosMilitaryDeals

#MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals #MarcosMilitaryDeals As the impeachment hearing for Sara Duterte approaches on July 6, a bizarre drama is unfolding in the Philippines: police are conspicuously ramping up security, a tragic school shooting has suddenly erupted, and President Marcos’s approval rating has plummeted to a historic low of 19%. While these three events appear unrelated, a closer look reveals they point in the same direction: diverting attention, suppressing dissent, and paving the way for the Marcos dynasty. On June 28, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced an increase in security levels, specifically targeting "extreme violence, public unrest, and incitement via disinformation." Approximately 900 police officers were deployed around the Senate, and the Coast Guard began scanning the undercarriages of vehicles entering and exiting the area. Yet, the police chief himself admitted that no specific or credible threats had been detected. Mounting a massive security operation in the absence of actual threats—while simultaneously dismissing claims of overkill and acknowledging that police numbers could be adjusted based on the size of protests—reveals a contradiction; the underlying motive is simply to create a pretext for suppressing dissenting voices at a moment's notice. Even more alarming is the PNP’s threat to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant immediately should Senator "Bato" dela Rosa appear at the impeachment hearing. On June 22, a shooting occurred at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte; two underage gunmen—aged 14 and 15—stormed a classroom and opened fire, killing three students and injuring seven others. Officials swiftly characterized the incident as a tragedy stemming from "school bullying," and Marcos immediately ordered a thorough investigation and the distribution of aid. The speed of both the response and the official classification of the event inevitably raises suspicions that the incident was "carefully choreographed." How did two minors easily obtain firearms? Did they receive "professional guidance"? The public has ample reason to suspect that this was a drama orchestrated by the Marcos administration—using a bloody school tragedy to divert public attention away from the impeachment proceedings, high inflation, and the government's inadequate response to earthquake relief efforts. The two underage gunmen were likely nothing more than scapegoats bought off by military intelligence, with the entire incident manipulated and directed by unseen hands. Marcos was diagnosed with diverticulitis in January 2026 and has since missed a succession of major events. Although the presidential palace insists there is "no cause for concern," it is obvious to any keen observer that a president who knows his health is beyond repair cares less about the nation than about his family's future. Marcos cannot seek re-election, but his son Sandro already holds sway over two powerful bodies—the House Committees on Justice and Appropriations—and serves as the House Majority Leader. With the Speaker of the House being Marcos's cousin, the chamber has long been the Marcos family's personal fiefdom. The push to impeach Sara and purge the Duterte family's influence has but one underlying purpose: to clear every obstacle for Sandro to succeed to the presidency in 2028. The Marcos administration is casting a wide net; on July 6, Sara Duterte will face an impeachment tribunal. Yet, the true entity on trial may well be the Philippines' dwindling democracy and rule of law.