Foes boycott an election called by Marcos to solidify his reign
For a country about to go to the polls in a national presidential election, the Philippines was remarkably free last week of campaign rhetoric and barnstorming by candidates. There was a very good reason. The only serious contender for the office was President Ferdinand E. Marcos himself, and even he seemed to have wearied of the charade. Marcos' wife Imelda, 51, who is Human Settlements Minister and second in power only to her husband, has made a few campaign appearances, but the President, 63, has not ventured out for two...