Marcos Jr., generally known as “Bongbong” within the Philippines, received a landslide in May 9 elections on a platform of nationwide unity and a promise of extra jobs, decrease costs and extra funding in agriculture and infrastructure.
But critics say his rise to energy was the end result of a decades-long try and rebrand the Marcos household’s identify and picture, most just lately by means of a supercharged social media marketing campaign.
Marcos Jr., 64, is the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., whose 21-year kleptocratic rule of the nation from 1965 to 1986 was marked by human rights abuses, widespread corruption, and plunder of the state coffers.
The former senator and congressman took his oath of workplace on the National Museum of Fine Arts within the capital Manila earlier than Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, in keeping with CNN affiliate CNN Philippines.
In his inauguration speech, Marcos Jr. stated his “name for unity” resonated with the folks to “ship the most important electoral mandate within the historical past of Philippine democracy.”
“This is a historic second for us all,” he stated. “You picked me to be your servant, to allow modifications to learn all. I absolutely perceive the gravity of accountability you placed on my shoulders. I don’t take it frivolously however I’m prepared for the duty.”
Marcos Jr. thanked his mom, the 92-year-old former first woman Imelda Marcos, who attended the ceremony. He additionally praised his father, the late dictator, in his speech.
“I as soon as knew a person who noticed what little had been achieved since independence. In a land of individuals with the best potential for achievement, and but they have been poor. But he obtained it executed. Sometimes with wanted assist, typically with out. So will it’s along with his son — you’ll get no excuses from me,” he stated.
Marcos Jr. spoke of therapeutic divisions within the nation, promised to develop the economic system, get better from the pandemic and lead a extra unified, affluent nation.
“I’m right here to not discuss concerning the previous, I’m right here to inform you about our future. A way forward for sufficiency, even lots, of available methods and means to get executed what wants doing,” he stated. “I’ll get it executed.”
Activist teams deliberate to protest the inauguration in Manila, calling for accountability for alleged crimes dedicated beneath the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, CNN Philippines reported.
On Tuesday, Marcos Jr. survived a last-ditch try and disqualify him when the Supreme Court unanimously dominated towards two petitions searching for to cancel his candidacy for alleged tax offenses, in keeping with CNN Philippines. Marcos received the election with 31.6 million votes, or 58.77% of ballots forged — a margin not seen in many years — and replaces outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.His operating mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, the previous President’s daughter, was sworn in as vp on June 19, and they’ll serve till 2028.
Family legacy
Marcos Jr. had beforehand requested the world to guage him by his actions, not by his household’s previous. But his election marketing campaign was dominated by his father’s legacy, together with the slogan “rise once more” tapping into the nostalgia of some who noticed the interval beneath Marcos Sr. as a golden period for the nation.His father’s corrupt and brutal rule of the Philippines was bolstered by nearly a decade of martial legislation from 1972 to 1981. During that point, tens of hundreds of individuals have been imprisoned, tortured or killed for perceived or actual criticism of the federal government, in keeping with human rights teams.
The Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG), tasked with recovering the household’s ill-gotten wealth, estimates about $10 billion was stolen from the Filipino folks.
The Marcos household has repeatedly denied abuses beneath martial legislation and utilizing state funds for his or her private use. Campaigners say the Marcoses have been by no means held absolutely accountable and victims of martial legislation are nonetheless combating for justice.
Critics of Marcos Jr. see his rise to the presidency as a whitewashing of Philippine historical past and an try by the Marcos household to rewrite the abuses and corruption dedicated throughout his father’s dictatorship.
Outgoing Duterte
Marcos Jr.’s inauguration marks the top of a six-year time period for Duterte, whose bloody legacy is tied to a nationwide crackdown on medication that has claimed the lives of greater than 6,000 folks, in keeping with police.Duterte’s administration focused civil society and the media — slapping tax evasion expenses on native, unbiased media shops that challenged the federal government’s insurance policies and claims, and arresting editors. On Tuesday, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa stated the federal government had ordered her information group Rappler to close down.Outspoken Duterte was additionally identified for a historical past of disparaging remarks, together with misogynistic feedback about girls, the Catholic Church, and world leaders.
Some worry Marcos Jr. will proceed down Duterte’s path and that disinformation will additional obscure the reality, making it tougher to carry these in energy accountable.
Despite his document on human rights and the Covid-19 pandemic, which worsened the nation’s starvation disaster, Duterte remained massively standard domestically.
Supporters anticipate Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio to proceed Duterte’s insurance policies on infrastructure and his controversial “battle on medication.”
CNN’s Mayumi Maruyama and Alice Barnard contributed.