Son of Filipino dictator on track for landslide presidential victory

THE son of Ferdinand Marcos, the late Filipino dictator, was on track last night for a landslide victory in the nation’s presidential election, in what would be a remarkable comeback for a family dynasty that was once exiled in disgrace.

Early exit polls from nearly half of the 70,000 polling stations suggested Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, 64, had more than twice the number of votes of his main rival Leni Robredo, 57, the outgoing vice-president and human rights lawyer, although the official results may not be confirmed for another week.

Sara Duterte was also on course to take over as vice-president, which was likely to give her father Rodrigo, the departing president, a continuing role in politics.

The election has been seen by many as a make-or-break moment for Philippine democracy, with rights activists, church leaders and former victims of Marcos Sr’s notorious martial law era that defined his 20-year-rule from 1965 to 1986 anxious that his son could lead with similar “strongman” traits.

Since the 1986 “People Power” revolution that forced the Marcos family to flee to Hawaii, they have been accused of plundering billions of dollars in illgotten wealth and remain subject to multiple related court cases.

The family denies any wrongdoing, and Mr Marcos Jr’s tightly controlled and well-funded campaign has dismissed criticism about the roots of their vast wealth as “fake news”, seeking to rewrite his father’s brutal regime as a “golden age” of economic growth.

Many of the electorate have bought into the campaign message, including younger generations who have no memory of the abuses committed under martial law, when, according to Amnesty International, some 70,000 were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and over 3,200 killed.

The resurrection of the Marcos dynasty’s fortunes appears to have been driven by public anger about corruption and poverty that have blighted the rule of governments for decades.

“I chose Bongbong Marcos as my president because I believe he can help our country to be great again,” said Gie Calamiong, a 50-year-old housewife.

“I believe he can make the lives of the Filipinos better, just like the late President Ferdinand Marcos did. I recall during that time the Philippine economy was doing well. Every Filipino had pride and honour.”

Polls opened at 6am yesterday, with a record-breaking 67million people registered to cast their ballots, and voters braving long queues in searing summer temperatures.

Jojo Montalban, 51, a production crew member in Las Piñas City, near the capital Manila, said he would vote for Mr Marcos because his parents had said his late father was “the greatest president” of the Philippines.

“They told me that his son Ferdinand Jr will be running for president someday and I should vote for him when it happens,” he said.

Little is known about the policies of Mr Marcos, who has skipped televised debates and largely avoided media interviews.

“The politics of this country is very personalised. Everything depends solely on personalities and campaigns are hardly about platforms,” said Edmond Tayao, a political analyst.