I’ll work for all, says Marcos after win
THE son of the disgraced late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos vowed yesterday to work for all people after his stunning election victory, and told the world to judge him by his presidency, not his family’s past.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, better known as “Bongbong”, become the first candidate in recent history to win an outright majority in a Philippines presidential election, paving the way for a once unimaginable return to rule for the country’s most notorious political dynasty. “Judge me not by my ancestors, but by my actions,” Marcos said.
Marcos fled into exile in Hawaii with his family during a 1986 “people power” uprising that ended his father’s autocratic 20-year rule, and has served in congress and the senate since his return to the Philippines in 1991.
Marcos’s runaway victory in this week’s election now looks certain with 98% of the eligible ballots counted in an unofficial tally showing he has 31 million votes, double that of his nearest rival, Vice-President Leni Robredo.
An official result is expected around the end of the month. “This is a victory for all Filipinos, and for democracy.”
Although Marcos, 64, campaigned
on a platform of unity, political analysts say his presidency is unlikely to foster that, with bitter feelings about his family’s vast political influence and wealth. Thousands of opponents of the senior Marcos suffered persecution during a brutal 1972-1981 era of martial law, and the family name became synonymous with plunder, cronyism and extravagant living, with billions of dollars of state wealth disappearing.
The Marcos family has denied wrongdoing and many of its supporters say historical accounts are distorted.
About 400 people, mostly students, staged a protest against Marcos outside the election commission, citing election irregularities. The poll body upheld its dismissals of complaints filed by different groups, including victims of martial law, who had sought
to disbar Marcos from the presidential race based on a 1995 tax evasion conviction. Two of the petitioners, including leftist group Akbayan, said they will appeal to the Supreme Court.
A big win for Marcos was securing President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter as his vice-presidential running mate.
Sara Duterte-Carpio won more than three times the number of votes compared with her nearest rival and also likely broadened the Marcos appeal in many areas.
Amnesty International accused Marcos of avoiding discussing human rights violations, including those committed during President Duterte’s war on drugs. Marcos is expected to closely follow Duterte, who favoured big infrastructure works, close ties with China and strong growth.