Marcos and Robredo prepare for enthusiastic final rallies as the presidential election approaches.


Up to 65 million Filipinos are expected to vote on Monday to appoint President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor after six years in office, along with thousands of other positions, from legislators and governors to mayors and city councillors.

A two-horse presidential race has emerged between Vice President Leni Robredo and favorite Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son and namesake of a strongman whose two-decade reign ended with his overthrow in the “people power” uprising. ” in 1986.

Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in the capital Manila in rallies for Robredo and Marcos, braving the scorching afternoon heat hours before the candidates arrived.

The place of Robredo’s rally was symbolic, it was held along Ayala Avenue, where a huge march took place in 1983 after the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino, an icon in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship. .

The rally had a festival atmosphere, with supporters dressed in bright pink, the color of Robredo’s campaign, handing out ice cream, drinks, T-shirts and flags.

“Robredo has helped a lot of people and they appreciate him,” said Mary Ann Ileto Fernandez, who was celebrating her 27th birthday at the rally.

“Even if a lot of people don’t openly show their support, we know they will vote for her.”

If opinion polls are accurate, Robredo, 57, will need a late push or low turnout if she is to win the presidency, with Marcos, a former congressman and senator, edging her by more than 30 points, leading all the polls this year.

If this deficit continues, Marcos, 64, could be the first Filipino president to be elected with a majority vote since the end of his father’s reign.

Marcos Jr was to address what was expected to be a huge crowd at a casino resort along Manila Bay, which his side said was an event to show appreciation for the influx of public support.

Marcos’s advance was attributed to his team’s shrewd use of social media to reach young readers, discredit Robredo and present what political pundits consider to be a narrative contrary to historical accounts of his father’s reign. Marcos recently praised his father as a “genius”.

Monday will be a rematch of the 2016 vice-presidential election, which Marcos also looked set to win, before losing by just 200,000 votes to Robredo. He fought hard to overturn the result, which the Supreme Court upheld.

Saturday’s rallies are expected to collectively draw hundreds of thousands of supporters, with the candidates calling on celebrities and social media influencers to energize supporters.



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