14 May 2022

Regine Cabato: how the Marcos dynasty regained power in Philippines

From Saturday Morning, 8:12 am on 14 May 2022
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Photo: Supplied

Thirty-six years after his father was ousted, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has been elected president of the Philippines in a landslide win. Marcos takes the helm from tough-talking president Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs left thousands of people dead.

The Marcos family was driven out of power in 1986 after being accused of spectacular greed and brutality during their reign. The family has never apologised, and has only given back a fraction of the wealth they wrongfully acquired, leaving the question - why were the Filipino people so quick to vote another Marcos to power?

Regine Cabato is the Manila reporter for The Washington Post Southeast Asia Bureau and has been reporting on the elections.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr celebrates with supporters.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr celebrates with supporters. Photo: AFP