On Monday, Marcos Jr., the son of former dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos had a huge lead in an unofficial counting of votes in the island nation. According to the tabulated votes he won 25.9 million of the votes while his closest challenger, Leni Robredo had about half his tally with 12.3 million votes. Leni Robredo is the current vice president of the nation and is also known for championing human rights.
The winner of the election will become the president of the troubled Southeast Asian nation on June 30. The president of Philippines can serve a single term of six years, according to the constitution of the nation. The island has been suffering from human rights abuses under former president Rodrigo Duterte who has been accused of gross violations and killings. He is being investigated by the International Criminal Court.
Philippines has also suffered a lot as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and unemployment. There have also been insurgencies by communists and muslims, from decades. In this tough scenario, a dictator’s son could become the president of the troubled nation while Duterte’s daughter could become the vice president. According to an unofficial count, she is leading with 25.8 million votes. There are separate elections for the post of president and vice president in the Philippines.
Both the children, whose authoritarian fathers have had controversial roles in their homeland, seem to have gained from the vote of those who don’t know much of the sufferings of the people under both the dictators. Both these younger candidates have reportedly white washed the past and had centered their campaign on national unity.
Eight other candidates who ran for the presidential elections but do not seem to have made an impact include Manny Pacquiao, a former boxing star, Isko Moreno, Mayor of Manila and Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief.
Almost 35 years ago, Ferdinand Marcos, whose regime was described as a kleptocracy, was overthrown following a popular uprising that had the backing of nation’s army. Ironically his son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could be declared the president of the same nation about three and a half decades later, through a popular vote.
