The Filipinos have chosen a successor to the controversial President Rodrigo Duterte, who encouraged extrajudicial killings on the streets and shut down opposition media. The polls are led by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of dictator and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos, who was overthrown by the Filipinos in 1986. The current vice president, Leni Robredo, who is considered a liberal candidate, is losing in the polls.

Based on polling data, Bongbong Marcos received about 18 million votes in Monday’s elections, while his rival Leni Robredo received about 8.5 million.

Preliminary results have already been announced, and they confirm the polls: the Marcos clan, overthrown and expelled by the Filipinos 36 years ago, will return to power.

The counting of votes can take several days, as was the case, for example, in 2016.

Marcos’ presidential campaign partner is Sarah Duterte, daughter of outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term is coming to an end.

Polling stations in the Philippines have been closed for a long time, but some places voted after the official closing time due to coronavirus restrictions and long queues.

The final turnout is expected to be high, with many of the 65.5 million eligible Filipinos turning out to the polls early in the morning.

There have been reports of problems with adding machines at some polling stations, but Election Commissioner George Garcia says there are no reports of large-scale violations.

Clashes at the polling stations, he said, were “minimized” and the police “have full control of the situation.”

The Asian Network for Free Elections group, which monitors the elections, considered the last vote fair and passed without violations.

The election has been criticized for several accompanying social media campaigns that critics have deemed unscrupulous.

“I described it as a cesspool of disinformation, and it gets worse with every electoral cycle,” says Philippine Polytechnic University political science professor Richard Heidarian.

Marcos has been accused of launching social media campaigns to whitewash his family’s history, but even as part of his campaign, he falsely portrayed his dictatorial father’s rule as the “golden age” of the Philippines (in reality, it was an era of poverty and huge debt to foreign banks) . Marcos denies allegations of launching these campaigns.

At the same time, observers note the launch of campaigns against the main rival of Marcos Leni Robredo, using misogynistic rhetoric.

In addition, the leader of the race throughout the campaign avoided direct debate or meetings with critics.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nicknamed “Bongbong”, 64, is the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines for 21 years.

Together with his family, including mother Imelda, a former first lady, the politician voted at a polling station at a school in Batak, in the north of the country.

The rule of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines was accompanied by the imposition of martial law and the takeover by the government of the courts, the media and private companies. The army and police arrested thousands of dissidents, many of whom were tortured.

First Lady Imelda Marcos also took part in her husband’s corruption schemes, together with other members of her inner circle, they embezzled about $ 10 billion. She is especially known for her expensive outfits and huge collection of designer shoes.

The Marcos clan returned to the Philippines in the 1990s and Bongbong Marcos has been pursuing a political career ever since. He is participating in the elections together with the daughter of the current president, Sarah Duterte. They promise to “unify” the Philippines.

Leni Robredo, a former human rights activist, defeated Marquez in the election for the post of vice president. She is known for her fight against human rights violations by the regime of Rodrigo Duterte. Her campaign slogan is “honest government – a better life for all.”