Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was poised to win the presidential elections by a landslide and the first majority mandate since the 1986 People Power uprising that forced his family into exile.
The 64-year-old only son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. thanked campaign supporters in a live address before midnight. He called for vigilance until the last vote is counted.
"We know that the count is not yet down, is not yet over, kailangan pa rin tayo magbantay," he said.
"Ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng tumulong, sa lahat ng sumapi sa aming ipinaglaban, sa inyong sakripisyo, sa inyong trabaho, at sa binigay ninyo sa amin na oras, na kakayahan, na sipag," he added.
READ: Where to Find Real-Time Election Results After Voting Closes
Marcos Jr. got 17 million votes based on the partial, unofficial count of 53.5% of election results at 8:32 p.m. Monday, surpassing outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte's 16.6 million votes in 2016.
He also surpassed the 15.2 million votes that in 2010 installed former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, the son of his father's nemesis, martyred senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. By 11:02 p.m.. with 77.32% of votes counted, he got 25,051,855 ahead of rival Vice President Leni Robredo's 11,925,131.
Bongbong Marcos campaigned on a platform of "unity" while refusing to debate his rivals and critics on the abuses under his father's iron-fisted rule.
Here's what you need to know about Bongbong Marcos, the Philippines' next president:
His win is the peak of the Marcos resurgence
When the 1986 People Power revolt forced the Marcos family into exile, the government of former President Cory Aquino that succeeded the dictatorship restored democracy and started a long hunt for the family's ill-gotten wealth, estimated at $10 billion (P525.2 billion).
A government panel tasked to compensate martial law victims processed 75,000 claims for those who survived torture and the families of those who were killed or disappeared during the Marcos years.
"Madalas gustong pagusapan ay yung nakaraan. Sa aking palagay, sige pagusapan natin yan pero pagusapan muna natin ang mga problema ngayon kasi krisis tayo madaming Pilipinong naghihirap," Marcos Jr. told dzBB radio in February.
His mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, was reported to have hundreds of pairs of shoes and amassed jewelry fit for European royalty and a Sotheby's auction. It was later discovered that she collected rare paintings from Monet and Piccaso.
His family holds power
Eldest sister Imee Marcos is on the first half of her six-year term as senator and is eligible for reelection during the 2025 midterm vote.
Bongbong's son, Sandro, is running for congressman in Ilocos Norte where Imee's son, Martin Manotoc, is governor.
Bongbong served as congressman and governor of his father's home province, Ilocos Norte before he joined national politics as senator in 2010.
In 2016, he lost to Vice President Leni Robredo, whose win was upheld by the Supreme Court against the Marcos scion's allegations of fraud.
Bongbong's wife is lawyer Liza Araneta-Marcos, with whom he has three children -- Sandro, Vinny, and Simon.
During an interview with celebrity talk show host Boy Abunda, Mrs. Marcos said her husband decided to run for president while they were watching Ant-Man.
Filipino alumni of Oxford University disowned Marcos as an alumnus or "Oxonian", saying his special diploma did not qualify as a degree.
Marcos also faced disqualification for his failure to file income tax returns. His family was also accused of non-payment of estate taxes amounting to P203 billion.
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