Ferdinand Marcos Jr sworn in as Philippine president
SMA NEWS – MANILA
Ferdinand Marcos Jr was sworn in as president of the Philippines on Thursday (Jun 30) afternoon, completing a stunning comeback for one of Asia’s most famous political dynasties, 36 years after it was ousted in a popular uprising.
The son of the Philippines’ late dictator Ferdinand Marcos succeeds Rodrigo Duterte, who gained international infamy for his deadly drug war and has threatened to kill suspected dealers after he leaves office.
Popularly known as “Bongbong”, Marcos Jr, 64, won last month’s elections by a landslide, securing the biggest victory since his father was ousted by a popular revolt in 1986.
Marcos Jr took the oath at midday in a public ceremony at the National Museum in Manila in front of hundreds of local and foreign dignitaries, including Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff.
In a speech that echoed his campaign slogans of unity, Marcos Jr vowed to take the country far on his watch with policies benefiting everyone, and thanked the public for delivering what he called “the biggest electoral mandate in the history of Philippine democracy”.
“You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid,” he said at his inauguration ceremony, surrounded by his family.
“This is a historic moment for us all,” said Marcos Jr. “By your vote, you rejected the politics of division.”
With his 92-year-old mother Imelda sitting metres away, Marcos Jr also praised his late father’s regime, which critics describe as a dark period of human rights abuses and corruption.
“I once knew a man who saw how little had been achieved since independence … He got it done,” Marcos Jr said, claiming his father built more roads and produced more rice than all of his predecessors combined.
“So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me.” He added: “No looking back in anger or nostalgia.”
More than 15,000 police, soldiers and coast guard personnel were deployed across the capital for the inauguration.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Duterte received Marcos Jr at the Malacanang presidential palace.
Duterte, 77, wore a mask and his traditional formal shirt, characteristically unbuttoned at the top and with sleeves rolled up, for the meeting with Marcos Jr.
