The son of the Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos claimed victory in the presidential elections on Wednesday and pledged to be the leader “of all Filipinos,” announced his spokesman.
With almost all the votes counted, Marcos Jr, known as “Bongbong”, obtained more than 56% of the votes, and more than double the votes of his main rival, outgoing vice president Leni Robredo.
This electoral victory is a surprising setback for the fate of the Marcos family, who went from the presidential palace to being a pariah of society and a few decades later returned to govern.
“Judge me by my actions, not by my ancestors,” Marcos’s spokesman, Vic Rodriguez, said in a statement saying he would be the ruler of “all Filipinos.”
“This is a victory for all Filipinos and for democracy,” the spokesperson added.
Later, Marcos promised to “start the work” when he takes office on June 30 and pointed out that the economy, prices, employment and education are going to be the priority of his government.
“It is not official yet, but I have always been advised and we must point out the fact that 31 million compatriots voted for unity,” Marcos told reporters at a press conference at his campaign headquarters in Manila.
The meeting with the journalists lasted less than five minutes and no questions were allowed.
The victory in Monday’s elections had been anticipated after a whitewashed image of the Marcos dictatorship was spread during the campaign, 36 years after a popular revolt ended up expelling him from power.
The electoral campaign of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, 64, was marked by a broad disinformation strategy.
Profiles related to Marcos have flooded social networks, leaving many Filipinos believing that the government of Marcos Sr. was a golden age of peace and prosperity.
But Ferdinand Marcos Sr. bankrupted the Philippines while he killed, tortured and imprisoned tens of thousands of opponents during his dictatorship.
his father’s grave
Marcos Junior published this Wednesday images of a visit to his father’s grave in Manila, in which he appears with his head bowed and covering his eyes with his right hand as if he were crying.
But the campaign frames he offered little indication of what his government would do. As a candidate he avoided debates and press interviews to avoid saying things that could be used against him.
Human rights groups, the Catholic Church and political analysts have expressed fears that the wide margin of victory could embolden Marcos to rule with a heavy hand and push through constitutional changes that would entrench his power.
Along with Marcos, Sara Duterte, daughter of outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte, was elected vice president, obtaining around 57% of the votes.
The office of Vice President is elected separately from that of President.
His landslide victory devastated Robredo’s supporters, who saw the election as a watershed moment for the fragile Philippine democracy.
Many of them spent months door to door in the vast archipelago trying to convince voters to support the liberal candidate.
Robredo, a 57-year-old lawyer and current vice president, admitted “clear disappointment” with the election result, but vowed to continue her fight against bad governance.
Marcos will have to deal with this opposition that could galvanize a strong pro-democracy movement.
“I think they might be able to control the worst instincts of the new administration of Marcos and Duterte,” said political analyst Richard Heydrian.