With 98 percent of eligible ballots counted in an unofficial tally, Marcos won double the votes of his nearest rival.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son of the disgraced late Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos, has told the world to judge him by his presidency, not his family’s past, after unofficial results showed he was on course for a stunning election victory.
Marcos, better known as “Bongbong”, become the first candidate in recent history to win an outright majority in a Philippines presidential election, paving the way for a once-unimaginable return to rule for the country’s most notorious political dynasty.
“Judge me not by my ancestors, but by my actions,” Marcos told the world on Tuesday, according to a statement by his spokesperson Vic Rodriguez.
Marcos fled into exile in Hawaii with his family during a 1986 “people power” uprising that ended his father’s 20-year rule. He has served in congress and the senate since his return to the Philippines in 1991.
Marcos’s runaway victory in Monday’s election now looks certain with 98 percent of the eligible ballots counted in an unofficial tally showing he has 31 million votes, double that of his nearest rival, Vice President Robredo.
An official result is expected around the end of the month.
“This is a victory for all Filipinos, and for democracy,” spokesman Rodriguez said.
“To those who voted for Bongbong, and those who did not, it is his promise to be a president for all Filipinos. To seek common ground across political divides, and to work together to unite the nation.”
Though Marcos, 64, campaigned on a platform of unity, political analysts say his presidency is unlikely to foster that, with bitter feelings about his family’s vast political influence and wealth.
Philippine markets were mixed after the vote. Stocks lost as much as 3 percent at one point, sovereign dollar bonds fell, while the peso currency rose 0.4 percent against the dollar.
