The son of former Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos was sworn in as president on Thursday, devoting decades of family efforts to return to the head of state after his father stepped down in a popular rebellion in 1986. Marcos Jr. takes over from Rodrigo Duterte, who was known internationally for his fierce war on drugs. Ferdinand “Bong Pong” Marcos Jr., 64, who won an overwhelming majority in last month’s presidential election, swore an oath at a public ceremony at the National Museum of Manila in front of hundreds of local and foreign dignitaries, including Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan.
In front of his 92-year-old mother, Imelda, the Philippine president paid tribute to his father’s nearly three-decade reign. “I knew in the past a man who saw how little had been done since independence, and did it,” Marcus Jr. said. “This is how it will be with his son, and there will be no excuses on my part,” he added. A few days ago, the Supreme Court rejected recent attempts to invalidate the victory of Marcos Jr. to prevent him from taking over the presidency.
The new Philippine president pledged to defend his country’s rights in the South China Sea, over which China claims almost complete sovereignty. Unlike his predecessor, who steered clear of the United States and moved closer to China, Marcus Jr. said he would adopt a more balanced policy toward the two superpowers. Marcos Jr. said last month that he would pursue a foreign policy whose slogan is “friends of all, enemies of none,” but stressed that he would work hard to implement an international resolution issued against Beijing on the South China Sea, which is rich in natural resources. (agencies)