Duterte Meets Marcos in Malacanang for Traditional Changing of the Guard

Outgoing leader welcomes incoming president.
Photo/s: Screenshot from RTVM

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday welcomed his successor, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in Malacañang ahead of the new leader's inauguration as the 17th chief executive of the Republic of the Philippines.

Wearing a barong with folded sleeves, Duterte received Marcos Jr. who was clad in a barong too inspired by the military uniform of Spanish colonial guards as a guest at the Presidential Hall in Malacañang, in one of the 77-year-old's last official acts as president.

The event also marks a historic return to Malacañang for Marcos Jr. 36 years since the 1986 People Power Revolution ousted his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and forced them to flee to Hawaii.

READ: Why Bongbong Marcos' Presidential Inauguration Speech Matters

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Marcos Jr. and Duterte held a short meeting at the Presidential Hall then descended the grand staircase of the Palace together as the outgoing president received departure honors. Throughout the affair, Duterte kept his face mask on while Marcos Jr. did not.

Duterte and Marcos Jr. rode separate vehicles after the program since the former would be returning to his hometown Davao City via commercial flight according to outgoing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

It was their second meeting since Marcos Jr.'s historic election win with 31 million votes to become the country's first majority president since the restoration of democracy.

Earlier in June, Marcos Jr. attended the inauguration of Vice President Sara Duterte, the President's daughter, in Davao City.

Marcos Jr. assumes the presidency as the Philippines recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic that has dragged the economy down and as Filipinos struggle with soaring prices of fuel and commodities.

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The only son and namesake of the late dictator, who won on a promise of unity, has vowed to pull the Philippines out of pandemic misery. His sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, previously said that she sees her brother's victory as a "restoration of faith and confidence" in their family.

Political analysts have said that a Marcos presidency would most likely be a continuation of a Duterte government with the former's family highlighting their alliance that broke election records.

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