Marcos Jr. officially proclaimed president-elect

Metro Manila, Philippines, May 26 ------ Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was officially proclaimed the next Philippine president, the same position his father and namesake occupied for 20 years before he himself was overthrown via a peaceful revolt in 1986.

The official canvass of votes by the joint congressional canvassing committee on May 25 showed that Marcos received 31,629,783 votes or 58.77% of the ballots cast. This translated to a landslide victory over his closest rival Vice President Leni Robredo, who garnered over 15 million votes. Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte will occupy the top two positions in the country for the next six years once their terms start on June 30. Following the Congress' proclamation, Marcos vowed that his administration will be one that "strives for perfection." "To have received over 31 million votes from our countrymen is as valuable an expression of trust as can be had by anyone in public life," Marcos said, adding he was "humbled" by the victory. "I promise you, we may not be perfect, but we will always strive for perfection," he stated.

Marcos also sought the public's prayers so he could perform well as the next chief executive. "I ask you all pray for me. Wish me well. I want to do well. Because when a president does well, the country does well. And I want to do well for this country," he said. Marcos' win came as no surprise since he had been the frontrunner in pre-election surveys despite having a significantly smaller attendance in his campaign rallies nationwide compared to the mammoth crowds at Robredo's events. The projection of pre-election surveys was immediately reflected in the first hours after voting precincts closed on election day, one that was hounded by complaints of vote-buying and errors in over 1,000 vote-counting machines. Analysts attribute Marcos Jr.'s rise in popularity despite not being visible in the public eye to the years-long attempt to rebrand his clan's tarnished image, largely through YouTube and social media platforms.

On the cusp of winning the presidency, Marcos Jr. asked Filipinos to judge him not by his ancestors, but by his own actions. With the Marcoses' return to Malacañang, Bongbong's sister Imee hopes for a platform that would help them "clarify" the legacy of their father. "What's most important to us is, of course, our name, the family name that has become so controversial, and so difficult at times to bear," the senator told reporters. "The legacy of my father is what we hope will be clarified at last." Marcos' inauguration is set on June 30. No further details have been released as of publishing, but his camp is considering Quirino Grandstand, Fort Santiago, and other historical sites as possible venue.

Source: cnnphilippines.com