By: Michael Piper, Junior
On May 9, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the Philippines presidential election, triggering protests from activists concerned about human rights and democracy in the region.
Marcos Jr, who goes by his nickname “Bongbong,” is the son of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines under martial law from 1972 to 1986. Marcos Sr. violently oppressed anyone who dissented against him and caused an economic collapse in the early 1980s, leading to the “People Power” movement that forced him out of office and into exile.
Since 1992, Marcos Jr. has run for and held several positions in the Philippines. In 1992, he was elected as a representative in the Ilicos Norte province, then as its governor in 1998. He became a senator in 2010 and narrowly lost the 2016 vice presidential race. He has now been elected for the Filipino presidency with Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Duterte, as his vice president.
Marcos’ policies emphasize diplomacy with China and separation from the United States. Marcos has already criticized legal limitations on China’s expansion into the South China Sea and stated that U.S. involvement is ineffective. Travel to the United States is also unlikely, as an unpaid $353 million fine related to human rights violations could lead to his arrest.
Marcos’ domestic policies will likely be similar to Duterte’s, with limitations on free press and penalties for dissent. Many Filipinos, concerned for democracy in their country, have been holding protests, as have human rights activists. The United States still plans to work with Marcos, however. The strategic location of the Philippines is vital to containing China and maintaining strength in the region.