The Daily Telegraph

Marcos family seeking return to power in the Philippine­s

- By Nicola Smith in Taipei

THE Marcos family are said to be considerin­g giving some of their wealth back to the Philippine­s amid rumours that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, son of the late dictator, has ambitions to become president.

Reports were sparked this week by a statement from Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine­s president and a political ally of Bongbong. “They [Marcos family] told me they’ll open everything and probably return what is uncovered,” he told reporters. “They are ready to bring it back… including a few gold bars.”

When exiled to Hawaii in 1986, Ferdinand Marcos Snr had amassed a $10billion fortune, despite earning an official salary of $13,500. His wife, Imelda, now 88, was infamous for her collection of 1,220 pairs of shoes, which became a symbol of the family’s extravagan­ce in the face of their subjects’ extreme poverty. The family have always denied any wrongdoing.

Now they are enjoying a political comeback despite accusation­s of human rights violations during the Marcos regime.

Bongbong is challengin­g recent election results through the courts in a bid for the vice-presidency.

 ??  ?? Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is pursuing a legal challenge to be vice president after what he called an ‘unfair’ election last year
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is pursuing a legal challenge to be vice president after what he called an ‘unfair’ election last year

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