Philippine election: What does a Marcos Jnr presidency mean for Asean and democracy in the region?

Eyes will be on whether his administration follows Duterte’s pivot away from the US in favour of China, and his approach to the South China Sea dispute, analysts say

Marcos Jnr’s victory also contributes to ‘regional democratic regression’, observers say, not least due to his refusal to admit his family’s wrongdoings and his campaign’s use of fake news to win the election

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Students and activists march in Manila outside the Commission on Elections on May 10, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:45am, 11 May 2022Updated: 12:38pm, 11 May 2022

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr’s landslide victory in Monday’s presidential election could prove to be a double-edged sword for Southeast Asia, depending on how he positions the Philippines amid the ongoing superpower rivalry, according to analysts.

Marcos Jnr’s win is also a sign of democratic regression in a region which has in recent years witnessed a widespread decline in democratic norms and governance, the experts said, adding that there appeared to be a trend of growing support for autocracy in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Marcos Jnr is the son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator whose family has been synonymous with kleptocracy in Southeast Asia for decades.

The senior Marcos was ousted by a “people power” revolution in 1986 following two decades of rule, during which he was accused of egregious human rights abuses and the plundering of more than US$10 billion from the country’s coffers. While some US$3 billion are said to have been recovered, about two dozen lawsuits are still pending to obtain another US$2 billion.

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Philippine election: Bongbong Marcos’ supporters celebrate landslide presidential victory

Benjamin Ho, assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the Philippines’ ties with China and the United States would be keenly observed by the region.

“It will be interesting to see whether Bongbong will follow his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s example in reaching out to Chinese President Xi Jinping and giving the Americans the cold shoulder after taking power,” he said.