Votes are being counted from election day in the Philippines, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of the country’s former dictator, is presumed to make a landslide victory, with more than double the votes of the second-place nominee.
Bongbong would beat out Leni Robredo, the current Vice President of the Philippines and a former human rights lawyer.
Bongbong’s campaign was largely centered on bringing back his father’s legacy, with his slogan being, “Together we shall rise again.” His supporters believe he will bring the country to a place of prosperity, while his opponents argue that the return to a reign like his father’s, which was marred with allegations of corruption and human rights abuses, will be a catastrophe. Many have claimed that misinformation and disinformation played a major role in Marcos’ election.
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“A lot of people want to celebrate or think it’s already over,” he said, choosing not to declare a win until the count was complete. “Let us keep watch on the vote. If we’re blessed to win, I hope your help and trust won’t fade because we have a lot to do in the coming days.”
“The disinformation infrastructure has been there for a long time. It’s not as if it just sprouted during this campaign. The Marcoses’ plan to reach the presidency has been in action for decades,” said Aries Arugay, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, who is based in Manila.
