Source: Bongbong Marcos, Twitter.
The son of former Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Sr has been sworn into office saying he wants to do “well” for his country.
The 64-year-old who goes by Bongbong Marcos won last month’s election with 31 million votes, equivalent to 58.77 per cent of total votes to make him the 17th President of the Philippines.
“This is a historic moment for us all,” he said.
“You picked me to be your servant, to enable changes to benefit all. I fully understand that gravity of responsibility you put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly but I am ready for the task.”
In his speech, the new president made mention of his father who was politically ousted from his presidency in the 80s.
“I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since independence. In a land of people with the greatest potential for achievement, and yet they were poor.
“My father built more and better roads, produced more rice than all administrations before his.”
“But he got it done. Sometimes with needed support, sometimes without. So will it be with his son — you will get no excuses from me.”
His father was a dictator who ruled over the Philippines from 1965 to 1986 with much of his time in office under martial law. He was known for his brutality, corruption, and authoritarianism plus abuse of human rights and sent the country into financial ruin.
In 1986 the People Power Revolution gained popularity which ultimately caused most of the country to turn against him. He later fled to Hawaii where he died in 1981.
Bongbong Marcos, however, said that he wasn’t going to speak of “the past” but only the “future”.
“A future of sufficiency, even plenty of readily available ways and means to get done what needs doing. I will get it done”.
Joining him as Vice President is Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In the Philippines the President and Vice President do not need to be from the same political party, as demonstrated by Marcos and Duterte who are from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
