After the fall of Ferdinand Marcos in the mid 80's after several decades of dictatorial rule and the lotting of the Philippine treasury by the family you might conclude that political redemption wouldn't be possible. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is on the verge of becoming the next president of the Philippines with the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte as his vice president. The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte has been nothing short of a human rights and free speech disaster. It's been estimated that Duterte's war on drugs has cost the lives of 30,000 Filipinos along with the destruction of a free press. ABS-CBN the most widely watched news channel was forced to close after the government refused to issue a new broadcast license over its criticism of the Duterte government. Marcos Jr. has fully embraced the attacks on the media and the war on drugs.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator, is set to become the Philippines’ next president after taking an unassailable lead in the election, signalling an extraordinary rehabilitation of one of the country’s most notorious political families.
With more than 70% of the votes tabulated, Marcos Jr had more than 23.5m, far ahead of his closest rival, the current vice-president, Leni Robredo, a former human rights lawyer, who had 11.1m. The size of his lead means a comeback by his opponents is not possible.
Supporters dressed in red shirts, his campaign colour, gathered outside his camp’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Monday night, waving the flag of the Philippines as passing cars sounded their horns.
Authoritarian rule makes a comeback in the Philippines.
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