Philippines begins new era of Marcos rule, decades after overthrow

MANILA, June 30 (Reuters) – The son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was sworn in as president of the Philippines on Thursday, finishing a surprising comeback for one of Asia’s most well-known political dynasties, 36 years after it was ousted in a well-liked rebellion.

Marcos Jr scored a uncommon landslide victory in final month’s election, helped by what his critics see as a decades-long effort to change public perceptions of a household that lived lavishly on the helm of one of the world’s most infamous kleptocracies. learn extra

In a speech that echoed his marketing campaign slogans of unity, Marcos Jr, higher often called “Bongbong”, vowed to take the nation far on his watch with insurance policies benefiting everybody, and thanked the general public for delivering what he referred to as “the biggest electoral mandate in the history of Philippine democracy”.

“You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid,” he stated at his inauguration ceremony, surrounded by his rapid household and together with his sister Imee, a senator, and 92-year-old mom Imelda, a former four-time congresswoman, seated shut by.

Marcos Jr, 64, additionally praised his late father’s rule, however stated his presidency was not in regards to the previous, however a greater future.

“I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since independence ….but he got it done sometimes with the needed support, sometimes without,” he stated.

“So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me.” He added: “No looking back in anger or nostalgia.”

The elder Ferdinand Marcos dominated the Philippines from 1965 for 2 decades, virtually half of it below martial legislation, serving to him to increase his grip on energy till his overthrow and his household’s retreat into exile throughout a 1986 “people power” revolution.

Thousands of Marcos opponents have been jailed, killed or disappeared throughout his rule, and the household title turned synonymous with cronyism, extravagance and the disappearance of billions of {dollars} from state coffers. The Marcos household has rejected accusations of embezzlement.

Hundreds of activists have been anticipated to protest in opposition to the inauguration of Marcos Jr, angered by a marketing campaign buoyed by a robust community of supporters and social media influencers decided to debunk historic narratives of the Marcos era.

The former senator and congressman campaigned on the slogan “together, we shall rise again”, invoking nostalgia for his father’s rule, which his household and supporters have portrayed as a golden age for the Philippines, a former U.S. colony.

Voters are relying on him to ship on pledges to create jobs and convey down client costs in a rustic of 110 million folks, practically 1 / 4 of whom stay on lower than $2 per day.

In a stirring 30-minute speech, Marcos Jr pledged training reforms, to enhance meals sufficiency, infrastructure, waste administration and power provide and to offer full assist for tens of millions of abroad Filipino staff.

“I fully understand the gravity of the responsibility you put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly but I am ready for the task,” he stated.

“I will get it done.”

Editing by Martin Petty and Michael Perry

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