Marcos Jnr wins seat in Philippine senate
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was Saturday declared a senator after national and local elections, reinforcing the family’s return to prominence.
Jose Ejercito Estrada, son of former president Joseph Estrada, also won a seat in this week’s vote and will similarly serve six years in the Philippine Senate, the Commission on Elections said.
Movie action star Ramon Revilla Jnr took the most votes, the commission said.
“The Commission on Elections, sitting en banc as the national board of canvassers, hereby proclaims the first nine out of 12 winning candidates as duly elected senators of the Republic of the Philippines,” Commission chair Jose Melo announced.
L-R: Newly elected Philippine senators Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jnr, Jose Ejercito 'Jinggoy' Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Ralph Recto and Vicente Sotto shows official certificates proclaiming them among the winners in the recently held elections, in Manila.
(AFP/Jay Directo)
The nine will begin their terms on June 30, Melo said, adding the remaining three slots are to be announced later.
Only 12 of 24 Senate seats were up for grabs because the terms of the other half have not yet expired.
In the elections, Marcos Jnr’s sister Imee won as governor of the family’s northern stronghold of Ilocos Norte, while his mother, the flamboyant Imelda Marcos, won a seat in Congress.
Marcos Jnr had earlier told reporters he may seek to use the Senate to clear his father’s name and as a springboard to the presidency in the 2016 election.
“I would like to take this political career that I have embarked upon as far as it can go. The ultimate position is to be president,” Marcos Jnr said when he announced his senatorial bid late last year.
His father’s 20-year rule was marked by massive rights abuses and the disappearance of thousands of opposition activists.
A popular people power revolt led by Corazon Aquino in 1986 ended the Marcos regime, and installed her as president.
Aquino died last year, triggering a popular outpouring of support which was used by her son, Benigno Aquino, to launch his presidential campaign.
Final numbers have not yet been announced for the presidency, but Aquino has been leading his nearest rival Estrada, the former president, by over five million votes and appears set to be the country’s next leader.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100515/wl_asia_afp/philippinespoliticsvote_20100515185135
Category: Philippines
