Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lauds his father’s dictatorship

• Marcos Jr. takes over for Rodrigo Duterte, who was known for his violent war on drugs and vowed to kill suspected drug dealers.
• The ceremony comes after the Supreme Court rejected the last attempts to exclude Marcos Jr. from the presidency.
• Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64, won last month’s elections by a landslide.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lauded his father’s dictatorship after being inaugurated as the new leader of the Philippines on Thursday, concluding a decades-long quest to restore the dynasty to the country’s highest position.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Ferdinand, 64, won last month’s elections by a landslide, his biggest triumph since his father’s 1986 ouster.

He takes over for Rodrigo Duterte, who was known for his violent war on drugs and vowed to kill suspected drug dealers after he left office.

At noon (0400 GMT), Marcos Jr. took the oath in front of hundreds of local and foreign dignitaries, media, and supporters.

Marcos Jr. hailed the late patriarch’s administration, which detractors call a period of human rights abuses and corruption.

“I once knew a man who saw how little had been done since independence… He got things done,” Marcos Jr. said after being sworn in as president. He said that his father built more roads and grew more rice than all of his predecessors put together.

“So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me.

Duterte met Marcos at Malacanang, where the Marcos Jr family fled 36 years ago.

Duterte, 77, wore a mask and his typical formal shirt, unbuttoned at the top and with rolled-up sleeves, to greet Marcos

The ceremony comes after the Supreme Court rejected the last attempts to exclude Marcos Jr.

As rising prices compress an economy already hurt by Covid-19, Marcos focuses on inflation, growth, and food production.

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He appointed himself agricultural secretary to manage the sector’s transformation.

He has also committed to protecting the Philippines’ claim to the disputed South China Sea.

After avoiding media interviews, he has revealed little details on how he will achieve his goals and his leadership style.

A pro-Duterte analyst, Rigoberto Tiglao, predicted a “boom” under Ferdinand.

Tiglao cited Marcos Jr.’s “accomplished academicians” and “powerful magnates” as sources of advice and financial support.

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