MANILA, Philippines — In the Philippines, it has been shown repeatedly that the death of a politician can breathe new life into the political careers of their relatives. Decades after this unprecedented event, it was former President Aquino’s death that thrust her son, then Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, into the political spotlight and paved the way for him to clinch the presidency in 2010. This phenomenon of death fuelling the political capital of personalities — dubbed by some observers and columnists as “necropolitics” — is not confined to the Aquinos and happens even in local politics. Necropolitics, according to political scientist Cleve Arguelles, is how dead bodies, particularly of public figures, have “political lives” which affect the people’s political decisions. The politics of Noynoy’s deathWhile no Aquino has been floated as among the potential bets for the 2022 elections, Arguelles said former President Aquino's death may provide an opening for the opposition.

Source: Philippine Star July 16, 2021 09:11 UTC