Ferdinand Marcos Jnr praises dictator father during swearing in as Philippines president

Ferdinand Marcos Jr has promised unity during his inauguration speech, even as his paid tribute to the controversial legacy of his dictator father.

Marcos Jr, who began his term as president of the Philippines on Thursday, invoked his father’s legacy as he promised he would deliver for the country. “I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since independence in a land of people with the greatest potential for achievement. And yet they were poor. But he got it done – sometimes with the needed support, sometimes without. So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me,” he said.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, 64, won last month’s elections by a landslide, 36 years after his father, who ruled for two decades, was ousted from power by a popular uprising. His election victory was fuelled by disinformation and nostalgia for his father’s rule which spread widely on social media.

Marcos told crowds that he was not there to talk about the past, but called for unity. “The changes we seek will benefit all and will shortchange no one,” he said.

On Thursday morning, as the inauguration was underway, survivors of his father’s regime gathered to take their own oath “to guard against tyranny, falsehoods and the trampling of people’s rights and freedoms.”

They gathered at Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a monument, museum, and historical research centre dedicated to those who died during the dictator’s two decades in power. Thousands were imprisoned, tortured or killed under Marcos Sr’s regime. Marcos Jr has downplayed or denied such abuses.

He succeeds the hugely popular Rodrigo Duterte, who gained international infamy for his deadly drug war and has threatened to kill suspected dealers after he leaves office.

More than 15,000 police, soldiers and coast guard personnel were deployed across the capital for the inauguration. It comes days after the supreme court dismissed final attempts to have Marcos Jr disqualified from the election and prevent him taking office.

As rising prices squeeze an economy already ravaged by Covid-19, Marcos Jr has made tackling inflation, boosting growth, and ramping up food production his priorities. He has taken the rare step of appointing himself agriculture secretary to lead the overhaul of the problem-plagued sector.

Marcos Jr has also pledged to defend the Philippines’ rights to the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely. But he has offered scant detail on how he will achieve his goals or few hints about his leadership style after largely shunning media interviews.

Pro-Duterte commentator Rigoberto Tiglao wrote recently that he was “optimistic” for an “economic boom” under Marcos Jr.

In the Philippines, a bun revives myths and misery of a bygone Marcos era

Tiglao pointed to the “accomplished academicians” on Marcos Jr’s economic team and the support of “powerful magnates” who will be able to provide him with advice and financial support.

Crucial to Marcos Jr’s success was an alliance with Duterte’s daughter Sara, who secured the vice-presidential post with more votes than him, and the backing of rival dynasties.

Unlike Duterte, who pivoted away from the US towards China, Marcos Jr has indicated he will pursue a more balanced relationship with the two superpowers.

Marcos Jr said last month he would adopt a “friends to all, enemy to none” foreign policy.

But unlike Duterte, he insisted he would uphold an international ruling against Beijing over the resource-rich South China Sea. While he has backed Duterte’s drug war, which has killed thousands of mostly poor men, he is not likely to enforce it as aggressively.

“I think the Philippine political elite are ready to move on from a violence-led drug war,” said Greg Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy.

“The drug war attracted enough negative attention.”