(The World Bank estimates he stole between $5 billion and $10 billion over the course of his rule.) But that was only a sliver of what they had amassed, and in the following decades, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos would be hit with criminal and civil fraud charges filed in the United States and accusations by the Philippine government that the couple plundered billions of dollars from their home country, stashed millions in Swiss and Hong Kong bank accounts, and tried to profit from clandestine investments in New York real estate. The United States also instituted a system of land titles. [49], The Philippines finally ratified the RCEP on February 21, 2023, the largest trade bloc in history. Delivered Monday-Saturday. Got a confidential news tip? Twitter:@Daniel_B_Davis. He has helped the country reimagine the Marcos legacy. Marcos is going to have to tread very carefully insofar as the connections with the United States, Rafael said. He held lavish rallies featuring pop music, comedy and dancing, where attendees were given freebies like wristbands and T-shirts. [54] 28 local government units (LGUs) have signed a memorandum of understanding with the DHSUD to pursue housing projects, with 11 of them already in the construction stage. The rival campaigns turned this into one of the Philippines' most watched elections. Janet Lim-Napoles, a businesswoman and the convicted ringleader of the scheme, claimed Marcos Jr. was involved, although he denied any knowledge and said his signature on forms releasing money to fake NGOs was forged. He acknowledged the necessity of closer cooperation with his country's allies if the disputes escalated to war, as China's military capabilities are nearly 15 times "stronger" than the Philippines. They have long maintained their innocence. In addition, current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave the clan a boost in 2016 when he had Marcos Sr. reburied in the Cemetery of Heroes in Manila. Marcos, 63, has been named as a possible administration candidate for the top post next year, along with the presidents daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. As legislator, one of the most important pieces of legislation that BBM was Whether Marcos will be the one who must weigh it up will depend on his rivals and whether they can mobilize against the brand he's offering. That night, at Reagans urging, Marcos conceded to Aquino and fled with his family to Hawaii. Washingtons commitment to Taiwan hasnt been sold to the American public. Join FPs Ravi Agrawal for a frank discussion about the Biden administrations China policy and alternatives that it ought to consider.. by Reuters. , So what accounts for Marcos Jr.s popularity in spite of his legacy of malfeasance? Imelda Marcos and Marcos Jr. still face a $353 million contempt judgment in the U.S. in a class-action over the elder Marcos rights abuses, and members of the Marcos family are also defendants in at least 40 lawsuits related to their wealth, Reuters reported this month. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., the presumptive president of the Philippines, at a campaign rally in Quezon City in April. hide caption. Menangi Pilpres, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr Diam-diam Liburan ke Australia. His pledge of better roads, more accessible internet, lower utility and food costs, and a desire to unite the Philippines seemed to sway voters, Villaraza said. In Brazil, which also suffers from substantial corruption, researchers Claudio Ferraz and Frederico Finan. The official count of all votes may take days. In addition, current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave the clan a boost in 2016 when he had Marcos Sr. reburied in the Cemetery of Heroes in Manila. But the pro-Marcos disinformation campaign also benefited from widespread public disappointment with the failure of the post-1986 administrations to bring significant improvements to the lives of poorer Filipinos. The United States Has Never Recovered From the Falklands War, The Deep Roots of Pakistans Terrorism Crisis, Putin Has Assembled an Axis of Autocrats Against Ukraine, The U.S. A lawyer for former Sen. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. told the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday that the former senator did not settle his His older sister ran a childrens TV show when Marcos Sr. was in power. Marcos Jr., in turn, has been accused of graft and convicted of tax evasion. Artificial intelligence development may get held up for political reasons. Marcos Sr. was forced out of office 36 years ago, which is well before much of the electorate was even born. Jinggoy Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, helped build day care centers when he was mayor of San Juan. Is Weiss correct? A supporter holds pictures of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his wife Imelda Marcos as Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio take part in an election rally in Caloocan, Philippines, on Feb. 19.Ezra Acayan/Getty Images, But Philippine voters dont punish politicians from large political dynasties even when theyve been indicted for corruption. Meanwhile, the PCO also released the names of the new appointees for the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Agriculture (DA). All Rights Reserved. The embattled president's longtime ally, the U.S., called on him to step down. The opposite happened. [50], Marcos appointed his then-running mate and now Vice President Sara Duterte to concurrently serve as the Secretary of Education. These rich and powerful family networks can protect politicians from real accountability and keep reform at bay. This position sets him apart from his four main rivals, who are far more hard-line on China. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. After nearly 21 years in power, Marcos' rule collapsed with stunning speed in 1986, as popular discontent boiled over. Ezra Acayan | Getty Images News | Getty Images, Race to replace Duterte as Philippine president remains 'very fluid': Analyst, Duterte raised South China Sea issue with Xi: Philippine finance secretary, Arbitrary arrests, disappearances and alleged torture, As the Philippine election draws near, China-friendly Marcos still retains a wide lead. Bongbong has successfully portrayed himself as the candidate for change, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of years of political polarisation and Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, Why the disgraced lawyer was spared death penalty, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Marcos names lawyer to head govt's Philippine Competition Commission, Atty. Then in 1983, the assassination of Marcos chief political rival, Benigno Aquino Jr., led the U.S. to distance itself from the Marcos regime. [46] Marcos issued an executive order allowing voluntary use of face masks in outdoor settings,[47] and extended from September 13 to December 31, 2022, the period of the state of calamity declared by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, due to the COVID-19. Over the intervening years, the Marcos clan has spruced up its image: Marcos Jr. appeared as a child in a movie glorifying his father. Mr Duterte, a hugely popular strongman-style leader, oversaw a notorious war on drugs that led to police killing thousands without trial, according to human rights groups. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Delivered Friday. So what accounts for Marcos Jr.s popularity in spite of his legacy of malfeasance? It is a vision of the Philippines that is prosperous, rich in opportunity, and home to happy, morally upright, and productive citizens whose lives are meaningful because theirs is a just society, because theirs is a nation that has become great again.. He is a popular presence on Chinese media app TikTok, where he posts reviews and presents a storyline of his family which once enjoyed a Kennedy-like mystique. This is similar to how voters react to corruption in other countries. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on. Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy is a shadow of its former self.. He's served as a member of congress and senator, compiling what critics say is a legislative record of no particular distinction. His campaign portrayed him as a champion of the poor about one-fifth of Filipinos live in extreme poverty. Such myth-making glorifies a period of tyranny and corruption in which Marcos the son was as invested as his parents, Scalice says. BBM grew up in politics. He also became its governor and congressman, before becoming senator of the Republic. Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the widow of assassinated Philippine opposition leader Benigno Aquino and leader of the peaceful People Power Revolution, became president. A mass uprising in 1986 saw millions of people take to the streets and the Marcos family - including a 28-year-old Bongbong - fled the country for Hawaii. A victory would seal a remarkable return to power for the Marcos family, who fled into exile 36 years ago. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, where many Filipinos consume their information, were flooded with content casting martial law and life under the elder Marcos as a golden age., This directly informed many peoples understanding of martial law under his father presenting that history in a positive light, Villaraza said. Explore the benefits included in your subscription. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. hide caption. Politics But tucking into dinner at a Manila fish market, Jeffrey Zorilla, 39, a freelance actor, says it's the warm memories his parents have of the senior Marcos that appeal to him. Build! In the latest opinion poll released this week, the late dictator's son polled at 56% while support for Robredo was at a distant 23%.. Philippine presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stuck to an evocative message of rekindling the idea of former greatness. But its not just the United States. BBM believes that when Filipinos unite and work together, they can overcome any crisis: Let us bring Filipinos back to one another in service of our country facing the crisis and the challenges of the future together.. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, the son of a former Philippines' dictator, has asked to be judged on his actions not his ancestors after dominating the country's presidential election. With the right support, he says, Filipinos can be good at anything. Bongbong, as he is popularly known, was 15 when his father imposed martial law in the Philippines in 1972. Read about our approach to external linking. As mandated by Republic Act (RA) 10677, otherwise known as the Philippine Competition Act, the PCC shall implement the national competition policy and effectively enforce the PCA to ensure fair competition in the local market. He believes that Filipinos are the best being kind, gracious, hardworking, and resourceful people. In a statement last week, Marcos spokesman Victor Rodriguez blasted Carpio for "lies, hatred, and black propaganda," saying that properties of the estate had been forfeited "in favor of the government in satisfaction of the estate tax due.". The President appointed Rhoda Caliwara and Lucila Tarriela as members of the TIPC as representatives for the employers' sector, Temistocles Dejon Jr. and Gerard Seno for labor. In 2016, the remains of Marcos Sr. were buried at the national cemetery, the Philippines' equivalent of Arlington National Cemetery.. Why Corruption Thrives in the Philippines. Few have a recollection of martial law. Marcos Sr. projected an air of power and pride that older voters remember. Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future. Instead, he has used vague phrases such as "national unity" and implied that his policies would continue to back Duterte's infrastructure-based "Build, Build, Build" public works plan.. What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? Delivered Thursday. In fact, 86 percent of Filipinos surveyed in 2020 by Transparency International called corruption in government a big problem. Two years later, Imelda Marcos was allowed to return to the Philippines, where she ran for president twice unsuccessfully before winning a seat in the countrys Congress four times, most recently in 2016. But challenges, from high inflation to the aftermath of a brutal anti-drug campaign by President Rodrigo Duterte, remain. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images Built using WordPress and, Who Is The Real Lawyer In Erin Brockovich. Bongbong Marcos is the son of 10th president Ferdinand Marcos, who was in power from 1965 to 1986.He belongs to the The Biden administration has passed landmark legislations such as theInflation Reduction Act(IRA) and theCHIPS and Science Act, which provide subsidies in clean energy and semiconductoShow morers worth well over $400 billion. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy.Watchthe conversation onFP Live, the magazines forum for live journalism, orreada condensed transcript. [7], Marcos was inaugurated as the seventeenth president of the Philippines on June 30, 2022, at the National Museum of Fine Arts. It helps that Duterte is an ally. Marcos Jr. has harnessed the power of TikTok to rehabilitate his image. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. Their conspiracy-laced content, followed by millions, vilifies Marcos rivals and the mainstream media, she says, trolling and intimidating journalists assigned to cover the campaign. In a bid to rewrite the past, Marcos narrates polished videos that portray his parents as philanthropists and his father as a great innovator, sidestepping any mention of human rights abuses or theft of the national treasury. Son of former dictator wins Philippine presidency, described being tortured and sexually abused by soldiers, clandestine investments in New York real estate, maintained the relationship was still great.. Is the Biden administrations China policy too hawkish? The youthfulness of the Philippine population helps obscure the truth of the Marcos dictatorship. GLH Lawyers Will Help You. Want to read more on this topic or region? In the run-up to this election, critics say his campaign didn't detail his plans or policies, and that he avoided debates where he might face independent questioning. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, speaks during a rally as he campaigns for the presidency in February in Manila. [citation needed] The Marcos administration faced challenges during this period such as a domestic sugar supply shortage in mid-2022, rising inflation rate brought about by the pandemic, and the economic effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But today, public disillusionment with successive democratic governments seems to have displaced the excesses of the Marcos regime in public consciousness. hide caption. Notably, he has not said much on the economy. WebVictor Dayrit Rodriguez (born December 23, 1973) is a Filipino lawyer who served as the Executive Secretary from June to September 2022 in President Bongbong Marcos' Analyst Robert Herrara-Lim says the chances of that happening in the May 9 election are "small but not insignificant. He also was twice indicted for corruption but never convicted., The youthfulness of the Philippine population helps obscure the truth of the Marcos dictatorship. You may opt out at any time. Needs to Talk About the Risk of War With China. Marcos ran for president on a campaign platform centered on national unity and continuity of the policies of Rodrigo Duterte, his predecessor. Over the intervening years, the Marcos clan has spruced up its image: Marcos Jr. appeared as a child in a movie glorifying his father. We want to hear from you. Bongbong Marcos has signed a total of 18 executive orders, 171 proclamations, 4 administrative orders, 12 memorandum orders, 14 memorandum circulars, and one special order. Despite being chased out of the country when Marcos Sr. fell from power in 1986, the family bounced back to political prominence in only a few years: Marcos Jr. became a governor in 1998 and a senator in 2010.Imee Marcos later took on his former role as governorand is currently a senator, having been succeeded as governor by her own son Matthew Manotoc in 2019. [57], Marcos sought to continue his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte's "friends to all, enemies to none" approach to foreign policy. Imelda Marcos arrives at the Commission on Elections to lend support for her daughter Imee Marcos in filing her candidacy for a Senate seat in 2018 in Manila. Delivered Wednesday. In Brazil, which also suffers from substantial corruption, researchers Claudio Ferraz and Frederico Finan showed that in the 2004 election, when there was evidence that a mayor had engaged in corruption on one occasion, that mayor was 4.6 percent less likely to be reelected. His father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled as a dictator for 14 years under martial law, was known for his big infrastructure projects but also for his enormous corruption. I miss the clout wherein you can do so much," she said in an interview for the 2019 documentary The Kingmaker, confessing that she always wanted her only son to follow his father's footsteps and become president. Marcos has signed five bills into law, three of which are national in scope. "Think Q-Anon, but Philippine style," he says. were tortured by the government). What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? Since returning from exile, the younger Marcos has occupied elected office as governor in the family stronghold of Ilocos Norte province. These rich and powerful family networks can protect politicians from real accountability and keep reform at bay., The history of the Philippine eliteand why voters continue to uphold their powerhas colonial roots. Philippine martial law victims challenge Bongbong Marcos presidential bid Activists who were jailed, abused and tortured under the late dictator fear his son will Dutertes daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio is running for vice president, further cementing a Duterte-Marcos alliance.. Heydarian says many Filipinos are disillusioned and nostalgic, and a considerable number over age 50 are "trying to convince their children and their grandchildren that 'Hey, if we go back to the Marcos era, those were the golden days, those were the days of strength, and innocence and statesmanship.'". His 31,629,783 votes was not only the highest count ever recorded in a presidential election, but close to the sum total of the two previous records combined. [13], Marcos' leadership style was described by his press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles as being "more systematic and efficient", compared to his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who was driven by passion. Families are also known for delivering pork barrel projects and even direct payouts before elections. Military officers defected in support of Aquino, who was sworn in on Feb. 25, 1986. Vote buying in the form of gifts or cash is common in the Philippines. [67][68], Mobilizations against Marcos' presidency have occurred as protests against historical distortion,[70] human rights violations,[71] and economic conditions.[72]. Considering some militants as instruments of regional influence while fighting others has had disastrous consequences. His older sister ran a childrens TV show when Marcos Sr. was in power. At that time, his father's corrupt and brutal legacy was at the front-and-center of the opposition's campaign.. Bongbong, as he is popularly known, was 15 when his father imposed martial law in the Philippines in 1972. While Duterte, 77, cannot by law seek reelection, his daughter is running for vice president alongside Marcos. "That's very worrisome for democracy, for press freedom, because the press is bearing the brunt of this," Mendoza says. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. His daughter, Sara Duterte, who ran for vice-president alongside Mr Marcos Jr, is leading by a wide margin of votes, partial results show. His father was president from 1965-1986, and TIME covered the rise and fall of the familys rule. Both candidates tried to woo those below the age of 30, who account for nearly half of the registered voters. This could have helped protect poor farmers from being dispossessed, but the land titles were so expensive and complicated to acquire that only the well-off got titles. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled with an iron fist for nearly two decades until 1986, a period marked by great poverty, unemployment and a debt crisis. About 70 percent are under 40 years old, compared to 51 percent in the United States. ", As for martial law, his parents told him it instilled "discipline.". One famous scandal involved members of congress funneling money to phony nongovernmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks in what is known widely as the pork barrel scam and which came to light in July of 2013. If he was given a chance to change a part of the Philippines history, presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. (BBM) said it would be to do away with the Spanish and American colonization, which practically left Filipinos searching for their own identity, their pre-colonial culture, traditions, and heritage. What does that mean for trade and globalization? Scalice says the Philippine business community backing Marcos wants him leaning toward Beijing. Meanwhile, Debbie Torres is the newly-appointed Director 4 for the DILG, while Jose Albert Barrogo and Luz Marcelino have both been named Director 3 for the DA. Marcos Sr. was forced out of office 36 years ago, which is well before much of the electorate was even born. After accounting for a candidate previously holding officesince incumbents are more likely to be reelected and more likely to face corruption chargescandidates indicted for corruption are 5 percent to 7 percent less likely to be elected. But historians say any analysis of the Philippines future with a Marcos scion at the helm would ring hollow without a critical eye toward the past. Dynasties are so influential that they have largely replaced political parties as the bedrock of Philippine politics. Familiarity certainly helps. And the desire for proximity to that celebrity is real.. For a significant portion of Filipinos voting for the presidential election in the Philippines, the memories of dictator Ferdinand Marcos' brutal and corrupt reign have not been erased. Mr Marcos Jr is set to inherit a country whose economy appears to be recovering from the pandemic better than expected. With Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ineligible for reelection, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.widely known as Bongbongis poised to win a landslide victory at the polls on May 9. The election was not just for the presidential positions, but also for senators, the lower house and regional officials across the entire archipelago. But from 1972 to 1981, Marcos also controlled the Philippines through martial law, which he declared was necessary in order to combat perceived threats to the country from communists and Muslim separatists. For example, in 1912, the Philippine Assembly made it a crime to break a labor contract, which effectively forced sharecroppers to stay on large plantations. Vote buying in the form of gifts or cash is common in the Philippines. The world over, countries are embarking on ambitious projects of industrial policy. [66], Unlike Duterte, whose foreign policy lessened the country's dependence on the United States, Marcos sought to strengthen the Philippines' relations with its traditional ally. that in the 2004 election, when there was evidence that a mayor had engaged in corruption on one occasion, that mayor was 4.6 percent less likely to be reelected. [56] To "boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages", Marcos signed his first law, which mandated SIM card registration. Are You Asking About Is Bongbong Marcos A Lawyer? In a political system dominated by powerful families, corrupt politicians can still succeed. Beijing's expansive claim to most of the South China Sea unnerves its smaller neighbors including the Philippines. During what was described as their conjugal dictatorship, the first couple is alleged to have stolen between $5 billion and $10 billion. Pemberitahuan legal. (The World Bank estimates he stole between $5 billion and $10 billion over the course of his rule.) The results may help explain the Marcos familys political staying power. [63], While campaigning for president in January 2022, Marcos committed to "set aside" Philippines v. China in favor of direct negotiations with the Chinese government over the disputes, stating that the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling was "no longer available" to the Philippine government because China, among many other parties, had rejected it. Supporters see vindication, and opponents see an assault on the country's fragile democracy. "They are concerned that if they are too close to the military maneuvers of Washington or diplomatic statements of Washington, that they will alienate China and they will lose their economic opportunities," he says. If Putin had hoped to weaken NATO, the very opposite has happened, with Finland and Sweden on the cusp of joining the transatlantic military alliance. NEW FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now. But Philippine voters dont punish politicians from large political dynasties even when theyve been indicted for corruption. When the Marcoses and their entourage absconded from the Philippines, it was with a stunning supply of wealth, The Los Angeles Times reported in 1986: $7.7 million in cash and $4 million in gems and jewelry, including a gold crown and three diamond-studded tiaras. Copyright The Manila Times All Rights Reserved. He often invokes his family name at campaign rallies but remains wary of exposing himself to the vagaries of political debate. Addressing a virtual forum in March, Marcos Jr. said the Philippines shared a "special relationship" with the U.S.. Please follow our comment guidelines, stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others beliefs. Scalice says the Marcos era saw the warrantless arrests of 70,000 people, the deaths of nearly 4,000, the stifling of free speech and the persecution of political rivals. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. The Philippines was a traditional military ally of the U.S. but after his presidential election in 2016, Duterte moved closer to China and declared hiscountry's "separation"from the U.S. The Marcos name has lost its menace for a new generation of Filipinos which has grown up with no memory of the brutal martial law era of the last century. Bongbong Marcos 2022 presidential campaign, Presidential transition of Bongbong Marcos, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, List of major acts and legislation during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos, List of executive orders by Bongbong Marcos, Ordinance Power of the President of the Philippines, List of administration members in the presidency of Bongbong Marcos Administration and cabinet, Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Information and Communications Technology, Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications, First 100 days of Bongbong Marcos' presidency, domestic sugar supply shortage in mid-2022, List of international presidential trips made by Bongbong Marcos, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, military capabilities are nearly 15 times "stronger", the Philippines' relations with its traditional ally, First 100 days of Bongbong Marcos' presidency Approval ratings, "Lawmakers say rightsizing plan of gov't offices commendable", "Philippines lifts the stringent travel restrictions", "From 2016 to 2022: Provinces' flip key to Marcos win", "Unity call in forefront as Marcos-Duterte tandem closes Visayas campaign", "Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., a Dictator's Son, Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Presidential Election", "Marcos Jr. officially proclaimed president-elect", "Marcos Jr. sworn in as PH's 17th president", "Military might on full display at inauguration parade", "National athletes march in military-civic parade during Bongbong Marcos inauguration", "Inaugural Address of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., June 30, 2022", "Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First State of the Nation Address, July 25, 2022", "Ceremonial Signing of the General Appropriations Act of 2023", "P5.268-T nat'l budget supports Marcos admin's overall goals", "Marcos leadership style more systematic, efficient Palace", "LIST: Who are the members of Marcos Cabinet? Build! Former BIR Chairman Kim Henares, who served from 2010 to 2016, tells NPR that during her tenure, she chose not to pursue criminal charges because she determined that the Marcos family would deploy a battery of lawyers, and the case would absorb all the resources of her office.