Philippines election results: Ferdinand Marcos Jr asks the world not to judge him on his family’s past
Known as “Bongbong” in the Philippines, Marcos Jr, who is the late dictator’s son and namesake, has vowed to be a “president for all Filipinos”, said Victor Rodriguez, his chief of staff and spokesperson.
“In historic numbers, the people have used their democratic vote to unite our nation,” the statement said. “This is a victory for all Filipinos and for democracy. To those who voted for Bongbong and to those who did not, it is his promise to be a president for all Filipinos. common ground across political divides and working together to unite the nation.”
Marcos Jr campaigned on a “unity” platform, promising more jobs, lower prices and more investment in agriculture and infrastructure.
Despite linking his campaign to his father’s legacy with the slogan “rise up,” Marcos Jr asked the world to judge him on his actions, not his family’s past.
“To the world he says, don’t judge me by my ancestry, but by my actions,” Rodriguez said in the statement.
Robredo, who said she would not back down until election irregularities were verified, urged her supporters to accept the May 9 election results.
She announced a rally for her supporters on May 13.
On Tuesday, presidential candidates Manny Pacquiao, the former boxing champ, and Isko Moreno, the mayor of Manila and a former actor, conceded.
Hundreds of demonstrators, including students and members of progressive groups, gathered in the capital Manila on Tuesday outside the Philippines Election Commission, waving banners and chanting slogans to protest Marcos and what they called electoral irregularities.
Critics of Marcos Jr are angry at what they say is a whitewashing of Philippine history and an attempt by the Marcos family to rewrite the abuses and corruption committed during his father’s dictatorship.
Tens of thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured or killed during the martial law period from 1972 to 1981 under Marcos Sr, according to human rights groups. The Philippine President’s Commission on Good Governance (PCGG), tasked with recovering the family’s ill-gotten wealth, estimates that around $10 billion was stolen from the Filipino people. Dozens of cases are still active.
The Marcos family has repeatedly denied abuse under martial law and the use of public funds for personal use. Activists say the Marcos have never been held fully accountable and that victims of martial law are still fighting for justice.
Marcos Jr’s running mate for vice president is Sara Duterte Carpio, the daughter of incumbent populist leader Rodrigo Duterte. While many of his policies are unclear, Marcos Jr is expected to continue Duterte’s policies on infrastructure and his controversial “war on drugs.”
Partial, unofficial results show Duterte Carpio will win the vice presidency, elected in a separate race from the presidency, in a landslide.