However, critics say his rise to power was the culmination of decades of trying to change the Markos family name and image, most recently through a supercharged social media campaign. Marcos Jr., 64, is the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., whose 21-year kleptocratic rule from 1965 to 1986 was marked by human rights abuses, widespread corruption and looting. The former senator and lawmaker took the oath of office at the National Museum of Fine Arts in the capital Manila before Supreme Court Justice Alexander Gesmundo, according to CNN Philippines. In his opening remarks, Marcos Jr. said his “call for unity” resonated with the people to “deliver the largest electoral mandate in the history of the Republic of the Philippines.” “This is a historic moment for all of us,” he said. “You have chosen me to be your servant, to allow the changes to benefit everyone. I fully understand the weight of the responsibility you have placed on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly, but I am ready for the project.” Marcos Jr. thanked his mother, 92-year-old former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who attended the ceremony. In his speech he also referred to his father, the late dictator. “I once knew a man who saw the little that had been achieved since independence. In a country of people with the greatest potential for achievement, but they were poor. But he did it. Sometimes with the necessary support, sometimes without. It will be the same. “with his son – you will not get excuses from me,” he said. Marcos Jr. spoke of healing the country’s divisions, promising to grow the economy, recover from the pandemic and lead to a more integrated, prosperous country. “I am here not to talk about the past, I am here to tell you about our future. A future of adequacy, even plenty, of readily available ways and means to do what is needed,” he said. “I’ll make it”. Groups of activists planned to protest the inauguration in Manila, demanding accountability for alleged crimes committed under the dictatorship of Marcos Senior, CNN Philippines reported. On Tuesday, Marcos Jr. survived a final attempt to oust him when the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against two petitions seeking the cancellation of his candidacy for alleged tax offenses, according to CNN Philippines. Marcos won the election with 31.6 million votes, or 58.77% of the vote – a margin that has not been seen for decades – and is replacing outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. His vice president, Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of the former president, was sworn in as vice president on June 19 and will serve until 2028.
Family heritage
Marcos Jr. had previously asked people to judge him by his actions and not by his family past. But his campaign was dominated by his father’s legacy, including the “go up again” slogan that touches the nostalgia of some who saw the period under Mark the Elder as a golden age for the country. His father’s corrupt and brutal rule in the Philippines was reinforced by nearly a decade of martial law from 1972 to 1981. During this period, tens of thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured, or killed for perceived or genuine criticism of the government. with human rights groups. The Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG), tasked with recovering the family’s illicit wealth, estimates that some $ 10 billion has been stolen from the people of the Philippines. The Markos family has repeatedly denied abuses under martial law and the use of state resources for their personal use. Campaigners say the Marcoses have never been fully held accountable and victims of martial law continue to fight for justice. Critics of Marcos Jr. see his rise to the presidency as a whitewashing of Philippine history and an attempt by the Marcos family to rewrite the abuses and corruption committed during his father’s dictatorship.
The outgoing Duterte
The inauguration of Marcos Jr. marks the end of Duterte’s six-year term, whose bloody legacy is linked to a nationwide drug crackdown that has claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people, according to police. The Duterte administration targeted civil society and the media – slapping allegations of tax evasion in local, independent media that challenged the government’s policies and allegations and arrested authors. On Tuesday, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Resa said the government had ordered its Rappler news agency to close. Honest Duterte was also known for a history of derogatory comments, including half-hearted comments about women, the Catholic Church, and world leaders. Some fear that Marcos Jr. will continue Duterte’s course and that misinformation will further obscure the truth, making it harder for those in power to be held accountable. Despite his history of human rights and the Covid-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the country’s hunger crisis, Duterte remained hugely popular at home. Supporters expect Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio to continue Duterte’s infrastructure policies and the controversial “war on drugs.” CNN’s Mayumi Maruyama and Alice Barnard contributed.
