After divisive presidential campaign, Marcos Jr faces challenge of uniting Philippines

In this photo taken May 9, 2022, Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., speaks to the members of the media, at his party heaquarters in Manila. (AFP)
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  • 鈥楥andidate for change鈥� has promised unity to voters weary of years of political polarization and pandemic hardship
  • With initial count largely complete, Marcos has more than 31 million votes, more than double that of his closest rival

MANILA: Days after clinching a landslide victory in one of the most divisive presidential elections in the history of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos now faces the challenge of fulfilling his campaign promise to unite the country.

Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator, is set to take over from President Rodrigo Duterte as the country鈥檚 leader for the next six years.   

While the election results are still unofficial, over 98 percent of an initial count has been completed, with Marcos having more than 31 million votes, more than double that of his closest rival, the outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo.   

Just stabilize the economy, curb inflation and do not kill us.

Jarrah Brillantes, Community development worker

Other contestants included boxing legend Manny Pacquaio, who is now a senator; Isko Moreno, a former actor and current Manila mayor; and Panfilo Lacson, a senator and former police chief.

Marcos鈥� running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of the incumbent president, is also leading in the vice-presidential race with more than triple the votes of Senator Francis Pangilinan, who ran in support of Robredo. They are expected to take office on June 30.

During his election campaign, Marcos, who is widely known by his childhood nickname 鈥淏ongbong,鈥� has portrayed himself as the candidate for change, promising unity to voters weary of years of political polarization and pandemic hardship.

鈥淗e promised unity. I hope he can do that,鈥� Eccleo Gregorio, a taxi driver in Manila who voted for Marcos, told Arab News. 鈥淚 also expect him to give Filipinos a better life by bringing down the prices of commodities, gasoline, electricity, and making sure to raise workers鈥� wages.鈥�

Allan Bergonia, a reporter, expects Marcos鈥� incoming administration to 鈥渟how us the real change.鈥�

鈥淎s they promised, together, we Filipinos will rise again,鈥� Bergonia said, adding that the victory proved that Filipinos wanted a return to 鈥渢he old style of Marcos system of government.鈥�

In the months leading up to the election, an online campaign portrayed the Marcos regime as a 鈥済olden age鈥� in the country鈥檚 history.

Yet for other Filipinos, Marcos鈥� family name remains a painful reminder of two decades of widespread corruption and human rights abuses committed by his father, who was ousted in a popular uprising 36 years ago.

Jarrah Brillantes, a community development worker, told Arab News that she believed Robredo could solve the country鈥檚 woes, not the president-elect of whom she had few expectations.

鈥淛ust stabilize the economy, curb inflation and do not kill us,鈥� she said.

Angie, a writer who gave only her first name, said that she was uncertain about what the future would offer under a new Marcos regime.

鈥淚 am hoping and praying that the new leadership will be able to bring about their promised peace and unity by digging deep and working hard across political colors to overcome pandemic challenges for the sake of all Filipinos,鈥� she said.

With Marcos promising voters that he will continue Duterte鈥檚 policies, Jude, a supporter who works for the current administration, said that he expected the future leader to 鈥渟ustain the projects and programs鈥� launched by his predecessor.

鈥淭he majority of Filipinos have spoken, which should be respected,鈥� he said, requesting that his last name not be revealed. 鈥淭hey want a genuine government, pro-poor, pro-people, that can sustain and further improve what the present administration has implemented.鈥�

Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said that he will reserve his comments until the final count is made public.

But he said that if Marcos takes office, a rapid return of his father鈥檚 loyalists is likely.

鈥淭he immediate thing that will happen is there will be redeployment of political forces,鈥� Casiple told Arab News.

鈥淏ut if he does reach out to his political opponents, which is very doubtful, then he might be able to achieve his unifying battle cry 鈥� All political forces would have to adjust their strategies vis-a-vis the new Marcos regime.鈥�