Prospect of Marcos revival looms as voting underway in Philippines By Reuters

By Enrico Dela Cruz

MANILA (Reuters) – Polls opened within the Philippines on Monday within the nation’s most divisive presidential election in a long time, with the prospect of a once-unthinkable return to rule of the Marcos household, 36 years after they had been toppled in a “individuals energy” rebellion.

The election pits Vice President Leni Robredo towards former senator and congressman Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of a dictator whose two decade rule resulted in a public revolt and his household’s humiliating retreat into exile.

Opinion polls put Marcos, popularly generally known as “Bongbong”, main his rival by over 30 share factors, having topped each ballot this yr. Meaning Robredo will want a late surge or low turnout if she is to win the presidency.

Voters began lining up lengthy earlier than polls opened at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Sunday), with polling stations because of function for longer than standard due to COVID-19 precautions.

Polls shut at 7 p.m. and an unofficial vote rely may give a sign of the winner inside hours.

Marcos, 64, has introduced no actual coverage platform however his presidency is anticipated to supply continuity from outgoing chief Rodrigo Duterte, whose ruthless, strongman strategy proved common and helped him to consolidate energy quickly.

Robredo, 57, a former human rights lawyer and staunch liberal, has pledged to enhance training and welfare, combat poverty and enhance market competitors if elected.

The Fee on Elections (Comelec) mentioned on Monday it has not obtained reviews of any main points on the bottom thus far, however there have been minor delays to voting in some precincts within the southern provinces of Cotabato and Marawi.

“Our assumption is all the things has been going effectively as a result of there aren’t any untoward and damaging reviews thus far,” Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco instructed a media briefing.

Marcos forged his poll in his dwelling province of Ilocos Norte, and solely briefly spoke to journalists on his method out.

‘VICTORY OF UNITY’

Marcos is buoyed by the help of many youthful Filipinos born after the 1986 revolution, having launched a large social media offensive in an upbeat marketing campaign that has carried undertones of historic revisionism.

His supporters and social media influencers have dismissed narratives of plunder, cronyism and brutality beneath the martial legislation of his late father as lies peddled by opponents, presenting what his critics say is a unique model of historical past. The Marcos camp has denied working misinformation campaigns.

Regardless of its fall from grace, the Marcos household returned from exile within the Nineties and has since been a robust power in Philippine politics, retaining its affect with huge wealth and far-reaching connections.

The vote additionally presents a possibility for Marcos to avenge his loss to Robredo within the 2016 vice presidential election, a slim defeat by simply 200,000 votes that he sought unsuccessfully to overturn.

Marcos has steered away from debates and has campaigned on a message of optimism and unity, on Saturday telling tons of of hundreds of supporters that he dreamed of a “victory of unity of your entire Philippines”.

Robredo has promised supporters higher training, healthcare and public providers if elected.

A game-changer within the election could possibly be vice presidential working mate Sara Duterte-Carpio, the incumbent president’s common daughter, who may switch a few of her father’s large help to Marcos. The president has not endorsed any candidate.

About 65 million Filipinos are eligible to vote to determine on a successor to Duterte after his six years in energy.

Additionally up for grabs are about 18,000 posts, from seats within the senate and congress to mayors, governors and councillors.