Philippines opt for familiar names in presidential vote — Analysis

While the official results of the presidential election in the Philippines won’t be known for a little longer, the preliminary tally with more than 94% of precincts reporting on Monday showed Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Junior with an insurmountable lead over the incumbent VP Leni Robredo.

Sara Duterte Carpio, however, is well ahead of all other candidates in the vice-presidential election. 

Rodrigo Duterte, the incumbent president, couldn’t run because of term limits. However his daughter decided to run as vice-president. Also known as “Inday Sara,” she got over 30 million votes, or more than 61% – far ahead of the second-place Francis “Kiko”Pangilinan, 8.9 Million (18%)

Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos won by less margin than Robredo. As of Monday evening, Marcos still had 30 million votes (58.8%), compared to Robredo’s 11.3 million (28%). Manny Pacquiao, a boxing icon and legend, came in third with 3.4 million votes (6.7%).

Large crowds of Filipinos gathered outside Marcos’s campaign headquarters on EDSA boulevard in Manila on Monday evening, chanting “Bongbong, Sara!”The New York Times reports that they were happy and exulting in the victory. Marcos advised them to persevere.

“It’s not over yet,”He spoke of the unofficial vote counting that is still to be completed. “Let us keep watch over our votes. And if I do get lucky, I am hoping for your unending help and trust.”

Bongbong’s father Ferdinand Marcos Senior ruled the Philippines between 1966 and 1986, before he was forced into exile and died three years later. Imelda, his wife gained fame for her shoe collection of 3,000 pairs. 

Bongbong, Imelda, and Bongbong were allowed back in 1991. They became again active in politics. Marcos Jr. spent his career working in Ilocos Norte on Luzon until he was elected senator. Robredo won the 2016 vice-presidential election. He lost by around 260,000 votes. His mother was the representative of Ilocos Norte before he became vice-president.

Duterte ran himself for Senate. Christopher, the candidate Duterte originally supported. “Bong”Go withdrew in the November 2021 race, setting up a fight between Marcos Robredo.