Late dictator’s son to face rights lawyer
MANILA: Philippine voters head to the polls on Monday in a presidential election shaping up as a rematch between the son and namesake of the country’s late dictator and the human rights lawyer who narrowly beat him in the 2016 vice presidential contest.
Opinion polls in the days ahead of the vote showed Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr comfortably ahead of his rivals, giving him a real chance at turning the tables on Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running second in the polls.
“It is very seldom that elections are really decided by rational calculations, by the scrutiny of a candidate’s public record,” said retired political professor Temario Rivera. “There’s a lot of emotion involved and that is why the narratives you are most comfortable with normally are decisive.”
The 64-year old Mr Marcos, whose baritone voice is strikingly similar to his father’s, has homed in on a single message all throughout his campaign — unity.
“Bongbong Marcos will be the president of Filipinos regardless of your political colour, race or creed,” a spokesperson said.
A victory for Mr Marcos, who has maintained his lead while largely avoiding debates with key contenders, would complete a once-unthinkable rebranding of his family name, 36 years after a “people power” uprising toppled his father and drove his family into exile.
Ms Robredo, 57, who describes the 1986 uprising as her political awakening, is confident of another victory over Mr Marcos. Her campaign, built on a promise of an honest and transparent government, appears to have gained more momentum in recent weeks attracting big crowds to rallies.
Pink-wearing supporters of Ms Robredo, the only female candidate in a field of 10 presidential contenders, have gone house-to-house in a bid to woo more voters.
“In 2022, the last man standing will still be a woman,” she said early in the campaign.
Other candidates running for president include former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, though they are well behind in the polls. Incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte has not endorsed a presidential candidate, but his political party is backing Mr Marcos, and his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, is Mr Marcos’s running mate.