The son of the Philippines’ late dictator Ferdinand Marcos will be sworn in as president Thursday (Jun 30), completing a decades-long effort to restore the clan to the country’s highest office.
Ferdinand “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.
He succeeds the hugely popular Rodrigo Duterte, who gained international infamy for his deadly drug war and has threatened to kill suspected dealers after he leaves office.
Marcos Jr will take the oath at midday (0400 GMT) 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.
More than 15,000 police, soldiers, and coast guard personnel have been deployed across the capital for the inauguration.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Duterte received Marcos Jr at the Malacanang presidential palace – where the Marcos family fled into exile 36 years ago.
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, who he once described as “weak”.
The ceremony comes days after the Supreme Court dismissed final attempts to have Marcos Jr disqualified from the election and prevent him from taking office.
BY CNA
