Bongbong Marcos

"Bongbong" redirects here. For other uses, seeBongbong (disambiguation).

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisRomualdezand the surname or paternal family name isMarcos.

Ferdinand"Bongbong"Romualdez Marcos Jr.(UK:/ˈmɑːrkɒs/,US:/-koʊs,-kɔːs/,Tagalog:[ˈmaɾkɔs];born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initialsPBBMorBBM,is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and currentpresident of the Philippines.He is the second child and only son of 10th president,kleptocratanddictatorFerdinand Marcosand former first ladyImelda Marcos.

Bongbong Marcos
Official portrait, 2022
17thPresident of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022
Vice President	Sara Duterte
Preceded by	Rodrigo Duterte
Secretary of Agriculture
In office June 30, 2022 – November 3, 2023
President	Himself
Preceded by	William Dar
Succeeded by	Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Member of theHouse of RepresentativesfromIlocos Norte's2nddistrict
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Imee Marcos
Succeeded by	Imelda Marcos
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
Preceded by	Mariano Nalupta Jr.
Succeeded by	Simeon Valdez
19thGovernor of Ilocos Norte
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007
Preceded by	Rodolfo Fariñas
Succeeded by	Michael Marcos Keon
In office March 23, 1983 – February 25, 1986
Preceded by	Elizabeth Keon
Succeeded by	Castor Raval (OIC)
Vice Governor ofIlocos Norte
In office June 30, 1980 – March 23, 1983
Governor	Elizabeth Keon
Preceded by	Antonio Lazo
Chairman ofPartido Federal ng Pilipinas
Incumbent
Assumed office October 5, 2021
President	Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.
Preceded by	Abubakar Mangelen
Personal details
Born	Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (1957-09-13)September 13, 1957 Santa Mesa, Manila,Philippines
Political party	PFP(2021–present)
Other political affiliations	Nacionalista(2009–21) KBL(1978–2009)
Spouse	Louise Araneta ​ (m.1993)​
Children	3, includingSandro
Parents	Ferdinand Marcos(father) Imelda Marcos(mother)
Relatives	Marcos family
Residence(s)	Malacañang Palace (office) Bahay Pangulo (residence) The Mansion (summer residence)
Education	Worth School (secondary)
Alma mater	St Edmund Hall, Oxford(special diploma) Center for Research and Communication(no degree) University of Pennsylvania (no degree)
Signature
Website	pbbm.ph

In 1980, Marcos became Vice Governor ofIlocos Norte,running unopposed with theKilusang Bagong Lipunanparty of his father, whowas ruling the Philippines under martial lawat the time.He then becameGovernor of Ilocos Nortein 1983, holding that office until his family was ousted from power by thePeople Power Revolutionand fled into exile in Hawaii in February 1986.After the death of his father in 1989, PresidentCorazon Aquinoeventually allowed his family to return to the Philippines to face various charges.Marcos and his mother, Imelda, are currently facing arrest in the United States for defying a court order to payUS$353million (₱17,385,250,000in 2025) in restitution tohuman rights abuse victims during his father's dictatorship.However, as long as he is president of the Philippines, he can enter the United States due todiplomatic immunity.

Marcos was elected asRepresentativeofIlocos Norte's 2nd congressional districtfrom 1992 to 1995. He was elected Governor of Ilocos Norte again in 1998. After nine years, he returned to his previous position as Representative from 2007 to 2010, then becamesenatorunder theNacionalista Partyfrom 2010 to 2016.Marcos unsuccessfully ran forvice presidentin the2016 election,losing toCamarines SurrepresentativeLeni Robredoby a difference of 263,473 votes;in response, Marcos filed an electoral protest at thePresidential Electoral Tribunalbut his petition was unanimously dismissed after the pilot recount resulted in Robredo widening her lead by 15,093 additional votes.

Marcos ran forPresident of the Philippinesin the2022 electionunder thePartido Federal ng Pilipinas,which he won by a landslidewith nearly 59% of the vote.His win was the largest since1981,when his father won 88% of the votes due to a boycott by the opposition who protested the prior election.

Marcos's presidential campaign received criticism fromfact-checkersanddisinformationscholars, who found his campaign to be driven byhistorical negationismaimed atrevamping the Marcos brandand smearing his rivals.His campaign has also been accused ofwhitewashingthe human rights abuses andplunder,estimated at 5 to 13 billion dollars, that took place during his father's presidency.The Washington Posthas noted how the historical distortionism of the Marcoses has been underway since the 2000s, whileThe New York Timescited his convictions oftax fraud,including his refusal to pay his family's estate taxes, and misrepresentation of his education at theUniversity of Oxford.In 2024,Timemagazine listed him as one ofthe world's 100 most influential people.

Early life and education

Bongbong Marcos was born as Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on September 13, 1957, atOur Lady of Lourdes HospitalinSanta Mesa,Manila,Philippines, toFerdinand MarcosandImelda Marcos.At the time of his birth, his father Ferdinand was the representative for thesecond districtofIlocos Norte,eventually becoming a senator just two years later. His godfathers included prominent personalities and futureMarcos croniesEduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr.and pharmaceuticals magnateJose Yao Campos.

Education

Marcos first studied at theInstitución TeresianainQuezon CityandLa Salle Green HillsinMandaluyong,where he obtained his kindergarten and elementary education, respectively.

In 1970, Marcos was sent to England where he lived and studied atWorth School,an all-boysBenedictineinstitution inWest Sussex.He was studying there when his fatherdeclaredmartial law throughout the Philippinesin 1972.

Marcos attended theCenter for Research and Communication,where he took a special diploma course in economics, but did not finish.He then enrolled atSt Edmund Hall, Oxfordto studyphilosophy, politics and economics(PPE). However, despite his false claims that he graduated with a bachelor of arts in PPE,he did not obtain such a degree.Marcos had passed philosophy, but failed economics, and failed politics twice, thus making him ineligible for a degree.Instead, he received a special diploma in social studies,which was awarded mainly to non-graduates and is currently no longer offered by the university.Marcos still falsely claims that he obtained a degree from the University of Oxford despite Oxford confirming in 2015 that Marcos did not finish his degree.

Marcos enrolled in the Masters inBusiness Administrationprogram at theWharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania,inPhiladelphia,United States, which he failed to complete. Marcos asserts that he withdrew from the program for his election as Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte in 1980.ThePresidential Commission on Good Governmentlater reported that his tuition, hisUS$10,000(₱492,500in 2025) monthly allowance, and the estate he lived in while studying at Wharton, were paid using funds that could be traced partly to the intelligence funds of the Office of the President, and partly to some of the fifteen bank accounts that the Marcoses had secretly opened in the US under assumed names.

Early public roles

See also:Iginuhit ng TadhanaandThe Beatles' 1966 tour of Germany, Japan and the Philippines

Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos meeting with United States presidentRichard Nixon,shown holding Bongbong, in 1969

Marcos was thrust into the national limelight as early as when he was three years old, and the scrutiny became even more intense when his father first ran for President of the Philippines in 1965,when he was eight years old.

During his father's 1965 campaign, Marcos played himself in theSampaguita PicturesfilmIginuhit ng Tadhana (The Ferdinand E. Marcos Story),a biopic based on the novelFor Every Tear a Victory.The young Marcos was portrayed giving a speech towards the end of the film, in which he says that he would like to be a politician when he grows up.The public relations value of the film is credited for having helped the elder Marcos win the1965 Philippine elections.

A young Bongbong Marcos and his sister Imee played a small role in the controversial "Manila incident"ofthe Beatlesin July 1966, just six months after their father assumed the presidency.Bongbong and Imee were among 400 children whom their mother Imelda brought to Malacañang Palace for a reception in which they expected the Beatles to show up.The four band members claimed not to know about the event, and refused to attend. As the event went on without them, the Marcos children were interviewed. Bongbong, referring to the group's long hair, was quoted saying "I'd like to pounce on the Beatles and cut off their hair! Don't anybody dare me to do anything, because I'll do it, just to see how game the Beatles are."Imee, meantime, was quoted saying "There is only one song I like from the Beatles, and it's Run for Your Life."—a quote which media later associated with the way the Beatles scrambled out of Manila, receiving rough treatment at the Manila International Airport.

Beatles lead guitaristGeorge Harrisonlater accused the Marcoses of inciting Filipinos to mob the band as they tried to leave the country for not showing up at the reception, saying in a 1986 interview atNBC'sToday Showthat the Marcoses "tried to kill [them]."Harrison further said that their plane was not allowed to leave Manila until their manager,Brian Epstein,refunded the concert ticket money.

TheManila Bulletinreported in 2015 that Marcos had once invited Beatles drummerRingo Starrto return to the Philippines "to bring closure" to the incident.The incident was brought up in the media again after a 2021 interview between Marcos and actressToni Gonzaga,when he was asked about which musicians he idolized, and he casually mentioned that he was friends withMick Jaggerofthe Rolling Stonesand members of the Beatles.

Marcos was still a minor on the exact year that martial law was declared. Marcos turned 18 in 1975—a year after he graduated from Worth School.

Roles in the Marcos regime

Vice governorship and governorship in Ilocos Norte

Marcos's first formal role in a political office came with his election as Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte (1980–1983) at the age of 22. On March 23, 1983, he was installed as theGovernor of Ilocos Norte,replacing his aunt Elizabeth Marcos-Keon, who had resigned from the post for health reasons.In 1983, he led a group of young Filipino leaders on a 10-day diplomatic mission to China to mark the tenth anniversary ofPhilippine–Chinese relations.He stayed in office until thePeople Power Revolutionin 1986.

During Marcos's term, at least twoextrajudicial killingstook place in Ilocos Norte, as documented by the Martial Law Victims Association of Ilocos Norte (MLVAIN).

Chairmanship of PHILCOMSAT Board

Marcos was appointed by his father to be chairman of the board of thePhilippine Communications Satellite Corporation(PHILCOMSAT) in early 1985.In a prominent example of what Finance MinisterJaime Ongpinlater branded "crony capitalism",the Marcos administration had sold its majority shares toMarcos croniessuch asRoberto S. Benedicto,Manuel H. Nieto,Jose Yao Campos,andRolando Gapudin 1982, despite being very profitable because of its role as the sole agent for the Philippines' link to global satellite network Intelsat.President Marcos acquired a 39.9% share in the company through front companies under Campos and Gapud.This allowed President Marcos to appoint his son as the chairman of the Philcomsat board in early 1985, allowing the young Marcos to draw a monthly salary "ranging fromUS$9,700toUS$97,000"(₱477,725to₱4,777,250in 2025) despite rarely visiting the office and having no duties there.PHILCOMSAT was one of five telecommunications firms sequestered by the Philippine government in 1986.

Ill-gotten Marcos family wealth

Main article:Unexplained wealth of the Marcos family

After the Marcos family went into exile in 1986, thePresidential Commission on Good Governmentfound that the three Marcos children benefited significantlyfrom what theSupreme Court of the Philippinesdefined as "ill-gotten wealth" of the Marcos family.

Aside from the tuition, US$10,000 (₱492,500in 2025) monthly allowance, and the estates used by Marcos Jr. and Imee Marcos during their respective studies at Wharton and Princeton,each of the Marcos children was assigned amansionin the Metro Manila area, as well as inBaguio,the Philippines' designated summer capital.Properties specifically said to have been given to Marcos Jr. included the Wigwam House compound on Outlook Drive in Baguioand the Seaside Mansion Compound inParañaque.

In addition, by the time their father was ousted from power in 1986, both Marcos Jr. and Imee held key posts in the Marcos administration.Imee was already 30 when she was appointed as the national head of the Kabataang Barangay in the late 1970s,and Marcos Jr. was in his 20s when he took up the vice-gubernatorial post for the province of Ilocos Norte in 1980, and then became governor of that province from 1983 until the Marcos family was ousted from Malacañang in 1986.

EDSA revolution and exile (1986–1991)

Further information:People Power Revolution

During the last days of the 1986People Power Revolution,Bongbong Marcos, in combat fatigues to project his warlike stance,pushed his fatherFerdinand Marcosto give the order to his remaining troops to attack and blow upCamp Cramedespite the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians there. The elder Marcos did not follow his son's urgings.

Fearful of a scenario in which Marcos's presence in the Philippines would lead to a civil war,theReagan administrationwithdrew its support for the Marcos government, and flew Marcos and a party of about 80 individuals– the extended Marcos family and a number of close associates– from the Philippines to Hawaii despite Ferdinand Marcos's objections.Bongbong Marcos and his family were on the flight with his parents.

Soon after arriving in Hawaii, the younger Marcos participated in an attempt to withdrawUS$200million (₱9,849,999,999.96in 2025) from asecret family bank accountwithCredit Suissein Switzerland,an act which eventually led to the Swiss government freezing the Marcoses' bank accounts in late March that year.

The Marcoses initially stayed atHickam Air Force Baseat the expense of the U.S. government. A month after arriving inHonolulu,they moved into a pair of residences inMakiki Heights,Honolulu, which were registered toMarcos croniesAntonio Floirendoand Bienvenido and Gliceria Tantoco.

Ferdinand Marcos eventually died in exile three years later, in 1989,with Marcos Jr. being the only family member present at his father's deathbed.

Return to the Philippines and later activities (1991–present)

In the early 1990s, PresidentCorazon Aquinopermitted the return of the remaining members of the Marcos family to the Philippines to face various charges.Bongbong Marcos flew on a private plane from Singapore to the Philippines and landed inLaoag,Ilocos Norteon October 31, 1991, becoming the first Marcos family member to return to the Philippines since 1986; his mother Imelda followed suit four days later.He soon sought political office, beginning in the family's traditionalfiefdomin Ilocos Norte.

House of Representatives, first term

Further information:1992 Philippine House of Representatives elections

Marcos ran for and was elected representative of thesecond district of Ilocos Norteto thePhilippine House of Representatives(1992–1995).When his mother, Imelda Marcos, ran for president in the same election, he decided against supporting her candidacy, and instead expressed support for his godfather Danding Cojuangco.During his term, Marcos was the author of 29 House bills and co-author of 90 more, which includes those that paved the way for the creation of theDepartment of Energyand theNational Youth Commission.He also allocated most of his Countryside Development Fund (CDF) to organizing the cooperatives of teachers and farmers in his home province.In October 1992, he led a group of ten representatives in attending the first sports summit in the Philippines, held inBaguio.In late 1994, he was made president of theKilusang Bagong Lipunanparty, which is known for its support for the Marcos regime.

In 1995,Marcos ran for the Senate under theNPC-led coalitionbut lost, placing only 16th.

Compromise deal attempt

In 1995, Bongbong Marcos pushed a deal to allow the Marcos family to keep a quarter of the estimated US$2 billion to US$10 billion (₱98,499,999,999.61to₱492,499,999,998.03in 2025) that the Philippine government had still not recovered from them, on the condition that all civil cases be dropped – a deal that was eventually struck down by the Philippines' Supreme Court.

Ilocos Norte governor, second stint

Having previously served as Ilocos Norte governor from 1983 to 1986, Marcos was again elected as governor of Ilocos Norte in 1998, running against his father's closest friend and ally,Roque Ablan Jr.He served for three consecutive terms ending in 2007.

House of Representatives, second term

In 2007, Marcos ran unopposed for the congressional seat previously held by his older sisterImee.He was then appointed as deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives. During this term, Marcos supported the passage of the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, or Republic Act No. 9522.He also wrote his own version of the law, but the bill only remained in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.He also promoted the Republic Act No. 9502 (Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act) which was enacted on 2009.

Senate career

Senator Marcos during a forum in June 2014

Portrait during his stint as senator

Further information:2010 Philippine Senate election

Marcos made a second attempt for the Senate in2010.On November 20, 2009, the KBL forged an alliance with theNacionalista Party(NP) between Marcos and NP chair SenatorManny Villarat theLaurel HouseinMandaluyong.Marcos became a guest senatorial candidate of the NP through this alliance.Marcos was later removed as a member by the KBL National Executive Committee on November 23, 2009.As such, the NP broke its alliance with the KBL due to internal conflicts within the party, however Marcos remained part of the NP senatorial lineup.He was proclaimed as one of the winning senatorial candidates of the2010 senate elections.He took office on June 30, 2010.

In the15th Congress (2010–2013),Marcos authored 34 Senate bills. He also co-authored 17 bills of which seven were enacted into law– most notably the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act whose principal author was SenatorVicente Sotto III;theCybercrime Prevention Actwhose principal author was SenatorEdgardo Angara;and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons and the National Health Insurance Acts, both of which were principally authored by SenatorLoren Legarda.

In the16th Congress (2013–2016),Marcos filed 52 bills, of which 28 were refiled from the 15th Congress. One of them was enacted into law: Senate Bill No. 1186, which sought the postponement of the2013 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections,was enacted as Republic Act No. 10632 on October 3, 2013.

Marcos also co-authored 4 Senate bills in the 16th Congress. One of them, Senate Bill No. 712 which was principally authored byRalph Recto,was enacted as Republic Act No. 10645, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

He was the chair of the Senate committees on urban planning, housing and resettlement, local government, and public works.He also chaired the oversight committee on theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)Organic Act, the congressional oversight panel on the Special Purpose Vehicle Act, and a select oversight committee onbarangayaffairs.

2014 pork barrel scam

In 2014, Bongbong Marcos was implicated byJanet Lim Napolesand Benhur Luyin thePriority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Pork Barrel scamthrough agent Catherine Mae "Maya" Santos.He allegedly channeled₱100million through 4 fakeNGOslinked with Napoles.Marcos claimed that the large amounts of money was released by the budget department without his knowledge and that his signatures were forged.In connection to the PDAF scam, Marcos was also sued for plunder by iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan (iBBM), an alliance of youth organizations. The group cited Luy's digital files, which showed bogus NGOs with shady or non-existent offices.

2016 Commission on Audit suit

In 2016, Marcos was also sued forplunderfor funneling₱205million of his PDAF via 9 special allotment release orders (SARO) to the following bogus foundations from October 2011 to January 2013, according to Luy's digital files:

• Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation (SDPFFI) –₱15million
• Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation (CARED) –₱35million
• People's Organization for Progress and Development Foundation (POPDFI) –₱40million
• Health Education Assistance Resettlement Training Services (HEARTS) –₱10million
• Kaupdanan Para Sa Mangunguma Foundation (KMFI) –₱20million
• National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) –₱100million

These NGOs were found by theCommission on Audit (COA)as bogus with shady or non-existent offices.

2016 vice presidential campaign

Further information:2016 Philippine presidential election

Main article:Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign

On October 5, 2015, Marcos announced via his website that he would run forVice President of the Philippinesin the2016 general election,stating "I have decided to run for vice president in the May 2016 elections."Marcos ran as an independent candidate.Prior to his announcement, he had declined an invitation by presidential candidate, Vice PresidentJejomar Binay,to become his running mate.On October 15, 2015, presidential candidateMiriam Defensor Santiagoconfirmed that Marcos would serve as her running mate.

Marcos placed second in the tightly contested vice presidential race losing toCamarines Sur3rd districtRepresentativeLeni Robredo,who won by a margin of 263,473 votes,one of the closest sinceFernando Lopez's victory in the 1965 vice presidential election.

Election results protest

Main article:2016 Philippine presidential election § Electoral protest

Marcos challenged the results of the election, lodging an electoral protest against Leni Robredo on June 29, 2016, the day before Robredo's oathtaking.PresidentRodrigo Dutertehas stated several times that he would resign if Marcos would be his successor instead of Vice President Leni Robredo.

A recount began in April 2018, covering polling precincts in Iloilo and Camarines Sur, which were areas handpicked by Marcos's camp. In October 2019, the tribunal found that Robredo's lead grew by around 15,000 votes – a total of 278,566 votes from Robredo's original lead of 263,473 votes – after a recount of ballots from the 5,415 clustered precincts in Marcos's identified pilot provinces.On February 16, 2021, thePresidential Electoral Tribunal(PET) unanimously dismissed Bongbong Marcos's electoral protest against Leni Robredo.

2022 presidential campaign and election

Marcos (center) and his running mateSara Duterteduring a grand caravan inQuezon Cityin December 2021

Further information:2022 Philippine presidential election

Main article:Bongbong Marcos 2022 presidential campaign

Marcos officially launched his campaign forpresident of the Philippineson October 5, 2021, through a video post on Facebook and YouTube.An interview with his wife Liza Marcos revealed that he decided to run for president while watching the filmAnt-Man,though Marcos admitted that he could not recall this moment.He ran under the banner of thePartido Federal ng Pilipinasparty, assuming chairmanship of the party on the same day,while also being endorsed by his former party, theKilusang Bagong Lipunan.Marcos filed his certificate of candidacy before theCommission on Electionsthe following day.On November 16, Marcos announced his running mate to beDavao CitymayorSara Duterte,daughter of PresidentRodrigo Duterte.Under the campaign theme of unity, Marcos and Duterte's alliance was given the name "UniTeam".

Seven petitions were filed against Marcos's presidential bid.Three petitions aimed to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC), one petition aimed to declare Marcos anuisance candidate,and three petitions aimed to disqualify him. Most of the petitions were based on Marcos's1995 conviction for failing to file tax returns.Three disqualification petitions were consolidated and raffled to the commission's first division, while three other petitions were handed to the second division.The final petition was also handed to the first division. Marcos dismissed the petitions as nuisance petitions with no legal basis and propaganda against him.On May 16 and 18, 2022, respectively,two of the petitionswere filed at the Supreme Court.The consolidated petitions were dismissed by the Court on June 28.

Marcos won in 64 out of 81 provinces in the2022 presidential election

Marcos regularly maintained a wide lead in presidential surveys throughout the months leading up to the May 2022 election;he was the first presidential candidate in the country to attain poll ratings of over 50% from surveys conducted byPulse Asiasince it began polling in 1999.His refrainment from attending all but one of the presidential debates during the campaign season was widely criticized.

In a joint session of the18th Congress of the Philippines,overseen by Senate PresidentTito SottoandHouse SpeakerLord Allan Velascoand stated by Senate Majority LeaderMigz Zubiriand Majority Floor LeaderMartin Romualdez,Marcos was proclaimed thepresident-elect of the Philippineson May 25, 2022, alongside his running-mate, Vice-President-electSara Duterte.Marcos received 31,629,783 votes, or 58.77% of the total votes cast, about 16.5 million votes ahead of his closest rival, Vice PresidentLeni Robredo,who received over 15 million votes.He became the first presidential candidate to be elected by a majority since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in1986.According to analysts, Marcos, together with Sara Duterte, "inherited" Rodrigo Duterte's popularity when they both won landslides in the election.Historians noted the significance of his victory as a "full circle" of the Philippines from thePeople Power Revolution,which deposedhis fatherfrom the presidency, thus marking theMarcos family's return to national power after 36 years.His majority was the largest since1981(surpassing his father's 18,309,360 votes); as the opposition boycotted that election, it is the largest majority since1969for a competitive election, and his 31-percentage point margin over his nearest opponent was the greatest sinceRamon Magsaysayscored a 38-point margin over incumbent PresidentElpidio Quirinoin1953.His vote count was not only the largest ever recorded in a presidential election, but close to the sum total of the two previous records combined.

On June 20, 2022, Marcos announced that he will serve as theSecretary of Agriculturein concurrent capacity.

Presidency (2022–present)

Main article:Presidency of Bongbong Marcos

See also:Presidential transition of Bongbong MarcosandInauguration of Bongbong Marcos

Presidential styles of Bongbong Marcos
Reference style	President Marcos Jr.,His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Alternative style	Mr. President

Marcos delivering his inaugural address.

Marcos deliveringhis first State of the Nation Addresson July 25, 2022.

Early actions

On June 30, 2022, at 12:00 noonPST,Marcos Jr. took the oath of office as the 17thPresident of the Philippinesat theNational Museum of the Philippinesand was administered the oath by Chief JusticeAlexander Gesmundo.At concurrent capacity, Marcos appointed himself asSecretary of Agriculture,in order to address inflation and personally monitor the food and agricultural sectors, while enacting efforts to boost farm outputs through various loan programs, affordable pricing measures, and machinery assistance.Marcos's firstexecutive orderas president were abolishing two offices: thePresidential Anti Corruption Commissionand the Office of theCabinet Secretary.

The next day after his inauguration, Marcos signed a memorandum seeking to provide free train rides to students, and extends the free rides of theEDSA Carouseluntil the end of December 2022.Twelve days later, on July 13, 2022, Marcos announced that the free train rides will only be limited to students using theLRT Line 2,due to the line's access points to theUniversity Belt.

Two days after his inauguration, on July 2, 2022, Marcosvetoeda bill sponsored by his sister SenatorImee Marcosthat aimed to create afree economic zonewithinNew Manila International Airport.Bongbong Marcos said that the bill would cite "substantial fiscal risks", lacked coherences with existing laws, and the proposed economic zone's location near the existingClark Freeport and Special Economic Zone;Marcos also called for further studies in establishing the planned economic zone.On the same day, Marcos also ordered that the list ofPantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Programbeneficiaries to be cleansed after receiving reports of unqualified beneficiaries receiving cash assistance grants and downturned calls to surrender their accounts.

On July 5, 2022, five days after his inauguration, Marcos held his first cabinet meeting, which was delayed during his inauguration, and laid out his first agenda, which primarily focuses on reviving the economy in the midst of theCOVID-19 pandemic.During the meeting, Marcos led the discussions with his economic managers,Finance SecretaryBenjamin Diokno,National Economic and Development AuthoritySecretaryArsenio Balisacan,andBangko Sentral ng PilipinasGovernorFelipe Medalla,to give a briefing about the country's economic status, and to lay out plans to further revive the country's economy, while combating inflation.Marcos also tackled issues regarding food security, transportation issues, and the reopening of face-to-face classes within the year.On July 23, 2022, Marcos has vetoed a bill which seeks to strengthen the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), as he cited that several provisions of the bill are "inequitable".

On July 25, 2022, the same day of his firstState of the Nation Address,Marcos allowed Republic Act No. 11900, known as theVaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Actto lapse into law. The law became controversial, due to the hounding health risks regarding the usage ofelectronic cigarettesandheated tobacco products.In an effort to boost the country's booster shot campaign, Marcos launched the "PinasLakas" campaign to continue administeringCOVID-19 boosterdoses within the public, by targeting a total of at least 39 million Filipinos to get their booster shots.

Two days after his first State of the Nation Address, following a meeting with Solicitor GeneralMenardo Guevarra,Presidential Legal AdviserJuan Ponce Enrile,Executive SecretaryVic Rodriguez,Foreign Affairs SecretaryEnrique Manalo,Justice SecretaryJesus Crispin Remulla,and former presidential spokesman and lawyerHarry Roqueon July 27, 2022, Marcos expressed that the Philippines has no intention of rejoining theInternational Criminal Court,as the death cases linked to the country'sdrug warofhis predecessor's administrationare already being investigated by the government, and stated that the government is taking the necessary steps regarding the deaths.On July 30, 2022, Marcos vetoed a bill which grants tax exemption on poll workers'honorariaand the creation of a transport safety board, stating that the honoraria "counters the objective of the government'sComprehensive Tax Reform Program",while mentioning that the proposed creation of a transport safety board" undertakes the functions by the different agencies "within thetransport sector.

Domestic policy

Agriculture and agrarian reforms

Marcos at a Kadiwa Project outlet inKoronadal,South Cotabato,in June 2023

Subsequently serving as the Secretary of Agriculture, Marcos launched initiatives which aims to improve domestic agricultural output and production, while expanding measures to further establish a farm-to-market approach in providing agricultural products to local markets and far flung areas.In August 2022, ashigh sugar prices impacted the countrydue to the effects ofTyphoon Odettein December 2021, theSugar Regulatory Administration(SRA) in August 2022 released an order to import 300,000 metric tons (660,000,000 lb) of sugar, which is aimed to reduce costs and increase the sugar stockpiles. A few days later, Marcos rejected the proposed importation,and Malacañang deemed the move as illegal, as the move was made without Marcos's approval, nor signed by him.SRA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian later apologized for the move and later resigned his post on Marcos; behalf,prompting SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and SRA board member Roland Beltran to follow suit a few days later.The move also caused Malacañang to instigate reforms within the SRA organization,and launched a campaign into alleged efforts of using the sugar order as a "cover measure" forhoardingby sugar traders.

In November 2022, Marcos expanded the Kadiwa Project launched by the Duterte administration, which aims to offer fresh local produces to local markets and other key areas in lower prices, and creates a direct farm-to-market approach of goods and services.The programs is located in various areas throughout the country and temporarily occupies various facilities owned by local governments. The move is also aimed to be expanded permanently to accommodate more consumers affected by inflation.

In January 2023, amidrising prices of onionsin the country, Marcos approved the importation of 21,060 metric tons (46,430,000 lb) of onions to cater the gap caused by low local outputs,and stated that the government was "left without a choice" despite approving the smuggled onions to be supplied in local markets.

Marcos signed his fourth executive order on September 14, 2022, which establishes a one-yearmoratoriumon theamortizationandinterestpayments ofagrarian reformbeneficiaries. The move is seen to assist farmers from debt payments and allows a flexible approach in financial assistance.

In July 2023, Marcos signed theNew Agrarian Emancipation Act,freeing at least 600,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries of decades-old debts worth₱57-billion under theComprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

After serving as Secretary of Agriculture for over a year that was marked by a rise in food prices, Marcos relinquished his position and appointedFrancisco Tiu Laurel Jr.,president of a deep-sea fishing company and a donor to Marcos' 2022 presidential election campaign.

Defense

Marcos with Japanese prime ministerFumio KishidainTokyoin February 2023

Marcos with United States presidentJoe Bidenat theWhite Housein May 2023

In August 2022, the Marcos administration said it was considering ordering helicopters from theUnited States military,such as theBoeing CH-47 Chinook,to replace the 16 RussianMil Mi-17military helicopters purchased by the Duterte administration, but cancelled the program a few days before the end of Duterte's term out of concerns about existingUnited States sanctionssuch as theCountering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act(CAATSA) and possible future sanctions in response to the ongoing2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Negotiations are also ongoing to procure limited units which was paid by the government toRosoboronexport.

Marcos expressed support for theAFP Modernization Program,which aims to boost the country's defense capabilities. Stating that the country's external security situation is becoming "more complex and unpredictable", Marcos ordered theArmed Forces of the Philippinesto shift its focus on its defense operations against external threats, due to the lower risks in the country's insurgencies, theRussian invasion of Ukraine,and the potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

During the 125th-anniversary celebration of thePhilippine Navy,Marcos announced plans to acquire the Philippines' firstsubmarine.The French-basedNaval Group,along with other contenders, has offered itsScorpène-class submarinesto strengthen the Navy.

With an aim to enhance the country's defense capabilities, Marcos has approved the "Re-Horizon 3" of the AFP Modernization Program, which is also known as the RAFMP. The $35 billion plan revised modernization program will be spread out over 10 years and aims to modernize theArmed Forces of the Philippinesbased on the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), a defense concept aimed at strengthening the country's external defense deterrence by projecting power within thePhilippine's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone,Benham Rise,theLuzon Strait,and theSulu Seathrough inter-island defenses doctrines, multi-layered domain strategies, and long-range strike capabilities.The concept also aims to strengthen the country's aerial and maritime domain awareness, connectivity, and intelligence capabilities.

Education

In August 2022, despite the lowCOVID-19 vaccinationrate among Filipino students with a total vaccination rate of only 19%, Marcos, along withVice PresidentandEducation SecretarySara Duterte,reopened onsite classes throughout the country, with 46% or 24,000 schools throughout the country reopening their classes on August 22. Meanwhile, 29,721 schools were allowed to continue implementingblended learningfrom August to October 2022,while the full implementation of onsite classes began within November 2022, with 97.5% of public schools returning to onsite classes, while the remaining 2.36% of classes were temporarily held online due to the effects ofSevere Tropical Storm Paeng.

Marcos also reviewed the implementation of theK–12program as part of his push to modernize thecountry's education system,and laid out measures such as system reforms to address the lack of jobs and potential job mismatches, reviewing the usage of English as a medium of instruction in schools, and improving the country's education technology systems.Marcos also expressed his support to modernize the country's schools by improving science-related subjects and courses, theoretical aptitude, and vocational skills.

Economy

This section is an excerpt fromPresidency of Bongbong Marcos § Economy.[edit]

Real GDP growth rate(year-on-year)under the Marcos Jr. administration

Year	Quarter	Growth rate (%)
2022	3rd	7.6
	4th	7.2
2023	1st	6.4
	2nd	4.3
	3rd	6.0
	4th	5.6
2024	1st	5.7
	2nd	6.3
	3rd
	4th

Marcos convenes aNEDAmeeting at Malacañang Palace in December 2022, approving the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

About 63% of Filipinos considers themselves poor by the fourth quarter of 2024 amidsts the rising inflation, which was the highest since 2003.Exports began to decline during his administration. Following an all-time high of nearly $80 billion in 2022, it declined to $74 billion in 2023, and $68 billion in 2024.

The Marcos administration approved the inclusion of the Philippines to theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP)free trade agreement,which was ratified by the Senate on February 21, 2023.His administration also formed thePrivate Sector Advisory Council,a council that will advise the President on economic affairs.

Marcos issued an executive order suspendinge-sabong(online cockfighting) operations in the country.He also issued an executive order banningPhilippine Offshore Gaming Operators(POGOs), citing concerns for national security.Residential condominiums and offices markets were severely affected following the POGO ban, which saw a vacancy rate of up to 20.5% following the surrender of spaces and non-renewals of leases from POGOs.

Marcos withEuropean CommissionpresidentUrsula von der Leyenand Swiss presidentAlain Bersetat theWorld Economic ForuminDavos,Switzerland, in January 2023

In the early years of his presidency, he sought to prioritize the country's post-COVID-19 pandemiceconomy as highlighted by his economic agenda.He lift the lockdowns and facemask restrictions. His administration sought to target a 6.5 to 7.5%real gross domestic product(GDP) growth rate, with a 6.5 to 8% annual real GDP growth rate, a 9% or single-digitpovertyrate by 2028, a 3% nationalgovernment deficit-to-GDP ratio by 2028, lowering the country'sdebt-to-GDP ratioto less than 60% by 2025, and securing anupper middle-income statusby 2024 with aUS$4,256 income per capita, which is part of his 2023–2028 fiscal strategy. Marcos also supports the creation of additionaleconomic zonesin various areas of the country to attract investments and laid out plans to imposedigital taxesand improve the country's tax compliance procedures which should improve revenue collections and cut the country's debts, while maintaining the country's disbursements at above 20 percent of its GDP.

Insurgency

This section is an excerpt fromPresidency of Bongbong Marcos § Insurgency.[edit]

To harmonize the Bangsamoro peace agreements of the1976 Tripoli Agreement,the1996 Final Peace Agreementand the2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,theOffice of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unityfacilitated the participation of theMoro National Liberation Front(MNLF) in theBangsamoro Transition Authority(BTA). On August 14, Marcos appointed new members of the BTA, and included Abdulkarim Misuari and Nurrheda Misuari, son and daughter ofMoro National Liberation FrontleaderNur Misuari,in an effort to unite former warring members of the MNLF and theMoro Islamic Liberation Frontunder one Bangsamoro autonomous government.

Communist policy

Amid the weakening of the communist fronts by the military, in May 2023, Marcos directed the "recalibration" of theNTF-ELCACto shift its previous "aggressive" policy and become "bringers of peace".Marcos appointed Vice PresidentSara Duterteas co-vice chair of the NTF-ELCAC.As part of his administration's peace initiatives, in November 2023, Marcos granted amnesty to former rebels of theCommunist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front(CPP-NPA-NDF),Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF), andMoro National Liberation Front(MNLF); he also granted amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).

In a surprise reversal of Duterte's policy, Marcos announced in November 2023 the revival of peace talks with the communists, a move critics see as a grave mistake. Negotiations between the Marcos administration and the NDF began inOsloas early as 2022, but were withheld to the public.

After the Supreme Court ruled in May 2024 thatred-taggingthreatens a person's right to life, liberty, or security,Human Rights WatchandKarapatancalled on Marcos to abolish the NTF-ELCAC. Marcos rejected the calls for abolition, saying the task force was instrumental in reducing the country's internal security threat.

Telecommunications

This section is an excerpt fromPresidency of Bongbong Marcos § Telecommunications.[edit]

In 2022, the Marcos administration launched the BroadBand ng Masa Program (BBMP) to provide free WiFi connections in remote areas.To "boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages", Marcos signedhis first law,which mandatedSIM cardregistration;by the end of the July 2023 deadline, a total of 113.9 million SIM cards were registered, and about 54 million unregistered mobile numbers were deactivated.

Foreign policy

See also:List of international presidential trips made by Bongbong Marcos

Marcos addresses the77th session of the United Nations General Assemblyon September 20, 2022.

Marcos speaks with Ukrainian presidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyduringthe latter's visit to Manilaon June 3, 2024.

Early in his presidency, Marcos promised to continue his predecessorRodrigo Duterte's foreign policy of being "friends to all, enemies to none".Marcos initially soughtcloser ties with China,but has since been increasingly seen as more pro-American than Duterte in an attempt to create a centrist-style balancing act between the two superpowers.During his firstState of the Nation Address,Marcos promised to "not preside over any process that will abandon even one-square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power".

Under his presidency, Marcos intensified the Philippines' cooperation on both economic and defense arrangements toWestern countries,such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and theEuropean Union,while strengthening its defense posture within the region.Marcos approved the designation of four additional bases to be used by the United States military under theEnhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.In May 2024, the Philippines and the United States held its largestBalikatanmilitary exercises, fueling concerns from local civilians who fear they would be affected in any future war between the US and China.The deployment of the United States' Typhon Weapons System in an undisclosed location in northernLuzonalso caught the attention of Russian presidentVladimir Putin,who said that Russia should resume producing nuclear-capable missiles and consider where to deploy them.

Marcos called on all involved parties on the South China Sea to abide by the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seain order to diffuse potential conflicts in the future.Due to Marcos' "transparency thrust" in dealing with the aggressive actions of theChinese Coast Guardand the ChineseMaritime Militia,China–Philippines relationshave significantly deteriorated during Marcos's tenure, with increasing tensions overterritorial disputes in the South China Seaand the Philippines withdrawing from theBelt and Road initiative.

Court cases

Income and estate tax case convictions

Protests against Marcos over his involvement in tax evasion in September 2022

On June 27, 1990, a special tax audit team of theBureau of Internal Revenue(BIR) investigated the tax liabilities and obligations of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who died on September 29, 1989. The investigation disclosed in a 1991 memorandum that theMarcos familyhad failed to fileestate taxreturns and severalincome taxreturns covering the years of 1982 to 1986 in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.

The BIR also issued a deficiency estate tax assessment against the estate of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1991 for unpaid estate taxes from 1982 to 1985, and 1985 to 1986, totaling₱23,293,607,638(₱97,792,696,739in 2022). Formal assessment notices were served to Bongbong Marcos at his office at theBatasang Pambansa Complexon October 20, 1992, who was then the representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte. Several notices oflevywere also issued by the BIR February 22, 1993, to May 26, 1993, to satisfy the deficiency of estate tax returns, to no avail.

On March 12, 1993, lawyer Loreto Ata, representing Bongbong Marcos, called the attention of the BIR to notify them of any action taken by the BIR against his client. Bongbong Marcos then filed an instant petition on June 25, 1993, forcertiorariand prohibition to contest the estate tax deficiency assessment.

On July 27, 1995,Quezon City Regional Trial CourtJudge Benedicto Ulep convicted Marcos to seven years in jail and a fine of US$2,812 (₱138,491in 2025) plus back taxes fortax evasionin his failure to file anincome tax returnfrom the period of 1982 to 1985 while sitting as the vice governor of Ilocos Norte (1980–1983) and as governor of Ilocos Norte (1983–1986).Marcos subsequently appealed the decision to theCourt of Appealsover his conviction. However, in 1994, the Court of Appeals ruled that the estate tax deficiency assessment had become "final and unappealable", allowing it to be enforced.

On October 31, 1997, the Court of Appeals affirmed its earlier decision with Marcos being convicted for the failure of the filing of an income tax return under Section 45 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1977 while being acquitted of tax evasion under the charge of violating Section 50 of the same statute. In spite of the removal of the penalty of imprisonment, Marcos was ordered the payment ofback income taxesto theBureau of Internal Revenue(BIR) with interest and the issuance of corresponding fines of₱2,000per count of non-filing of income tax returns from 1982 to 1984 and₱30,000for 1985, plus the accrued interest.Marcos later filed a petition forcertiorarito theSupreme Court of the Philippinesover the modified conviction imposed by the Court of Appeals but subsequently withdrew his petition on August 8, 2001, thereby declaring the ruling as final and executory.

In 2021, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court certified that there were no records on file of Marcos settling the corresponding tax dues and fines.However, according to Marcos's campaign team, documents issued by the Supreme Court, the BIR, and a receipt issued by theLand Bank of the Philippinesstate that the tax dues were paid,while elections commissionerRowena Guanzonnoted that the documents Marcos submitted to theCommission on Electionswere not receipts of taxes paid to the BIR but rather receipts from the Land Bank for lease rentals.Nevertheless, theCommission on Electionsruled against the consolidated disqualification cases against Marcos and stated that "Further, to prove the absence of any ill-intention and bad faith on his part," Marcos submitted a Bureau of Internal Revenue certification and an official receipt from the Landbank, showing his compliance with the CA decision directing him to pay deficiency income taxes amounting to a little over₱67,000,including fines and surcharges.

The estate tax deficiency assessment issued by the BIR has remained uncollected since the Supreme Court ruling on October 12, 1991. Since the ruling of the Supreme Court in 1997 which had junked the petition of Marcos to contest the estate tax deficiency assessment, under theRamos,Arroyo,Aquino,andDuterteadministrations, the BIR has issued renewed written demands on the Marcos family to pay the estate tax liabilities, which has remained unpaid. As a result, the estate tax deficiency assessment, with penalties, is estimated to have ballooned to₱203,819,066,829(₱203.819billion) as of 2021.

The unpaid estate tax return was used as grounds in one petition to cancel Marcos's certificate of candidacy for president in the 2022 elections. On March 1, 2022, presidential candidate and Manila mayorIsko Morenosaid that he would implement the Supreme Court ruling ordering the Marcos family to pay their estate tax debts if elected, vowing to use the proceeds as relief aid (ayuda) for victims of theCOVID-19 pandemic.Ernest Ramel,the secretary general of Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of Moreno continuously called out BIR about the issue.

On March 28, 2022, SenatorAquilino Pimentel IIIfiled Senate Resolution No. 998, stating an urgent and pressing need for the Senate to look into why the estate tax has remained uncollected for almost 25 years, which the amount has already been ruled to be due and demandable against the heirs of his father.

2007 Payanig sa Pasig property case motion

Further information:Payanig sa Pasig land dispute

On June 19, 2007,Marcos Jr. filed a motion to intervene in, OCLP v. PCGG, Civil Case Number 0093 at the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines' anti-graft court.The case had been filed by Ortigas & Company, Ltd. Partnership (OCLP) against the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) over the 18-hectare (44-acre) former Payanig sa Pasig property borderingOrtigas Avenue,Julia Vargas Avenue,andMeralco AvenueinOrtigas Center,Pasig,which had been the site of the 'Payanig sa Pasig' theme park, but is now the location of various businesses, most notably theMetrowalkshopping and recreation complex.

The PCGG considers the property the "crown jewel" among the properties sequestered from the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth, estimating its minimum value to be about₱16.5billion in March 2015.The property had been surrendered to the PCGG in 1986, as part of the settlement deal of Marcos cronyJose Yao Campos,who was holding the property under various companies on Marcos Sr.'s behalf.Ortigas & Company countered that Marcos Sr. had coerced them to sell the property to him in 1968.Marcos Jr.'s motion claimed that his father had bought the property legally, but the Sandiganbayan dismissed his motion on October 18, 2008, saying it had already dismissed a similar motion filed years earlier by his mother Imelda.

2011 Hawaii contempt judgement

In 2011, the Hawaii District Court ruled Bongbong Marcos and his mother Imelda Marcos to be in contempt,fining themUS$353.6million (₱17,414,799,999.93in 2025) fine for not respecting an injunction from a 1992 judgement in a human rights victims case, which commanded them not to dissipate the assets of Ferdinand Marcos's estate.The ruling was upheld by theUS Ninth Circuit Court of Appealson October 24, 2012, and is believed to be "the largest contempt award ever affirmed by an appellate court."While the 1992 case was against Ferdinand Marcos, the 2011 judgment was against Imelda and Bongbong personally.The judgement also effectively barred Imelda and Bongbong from entering any US territory.However, on June 9, 2022,United States Deputy Secretary of StateWendy Shermanclarified in a roundtable discussion with local reporters during a state visit, that as a head of state, Marcos enjoysdiplomatic immunityin all circumstances, stating that he is welcome to visit the United States under his official role.

Political views

The Marcos couple meets Chinese presidentXi JinpingandPeng LiyuaninBeijingin January 2023

Marcos has described his political views as "conservative"and"Machiavellian".He has also described the "spirit ofnationalism"as a force driving progress in the Philippines.Before taking office, Marcos has been described in media reports as apopulist.On social issues, he is in favor of legalizing abortion for rape and incest victimsas well as divorce and same-sex unions.Marcos is also opposed to reinstating the death penalty for convicted heinous criminalsand lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12.In terms of economic policy, analysts have speculated that Marcos would pursue liberal policies as opposed to protectionist rhetoric during his presidential campaign.

Marcos-Duterte feud

Marcos with his predecessor,Rodrigo Duterte,at Malacañang in August 2023

Amid the feud of the Marcos and Duterte clans in late April 2023, House Speaker and Marcos' cousinMartin Romualdezsaid the House of Representatives will probe into an agreement former presidentRodrigo Dutertemade duringhis presidencywith Chinese presidentXi Jinping.Under the agreement, Duterte agreed to maintain the "status quo" in the South China Sea to avoid escalating a war. Political analyst Ronald Llamas said the probe was engineered by Marcos as a "political payback" to Duterte's verbal attacks and to reduce Duterte's political influence ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.

In 2024, Duterte criticized the Marcos administration's curtailment of thefreedom of speechin violation of the 1987Bill of Rights.Duterte's nationwide "Hakbang ng Maisug(brave)prayer-rallies,which Duterte said the Marcos administration deliberately aimed to thwart, suffered setbacks and cancellations.Duterte, however, said he prayed for Marcos to survive until the end of his term since Duterte does not want himself or his daughter Sara to become president.
In November 2024, Philippine authorities subpoenaed vice president Duterte after she threatened to have Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker assassinated if she were killed. Marcos condemned her remarks as a criminal threat and increased his security, whileEduardo Añocalled the threats a national security concern. Duterte clarified that her comments were not threats but a concern for her safety, dismissing the government's actions as politically motivated. She was ordered to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation, with such statements potentially leading to criminal charges.Despite growing calls for Duterte's impeachment,Marcos has publicly voiced his opinion against impeaching her, calling it "a storm in a teacup" and considering the move inconsequential to the lives of Filipinos.

Public profile

Historical distortionism

Main article:Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos § Historical denialism

As with other Marcos family members who have stayed in the public eye since their return to the Philippines,Marcos has received significant criticism for instances ofhistorical denialism,and his trivialization of the human rights violations and economic plunder that took place during the Marcos administration, and of the role he played in the administration.Specific criticisms have been leveled at Marcos for being unapologetic for human rights violationsand ill-gotten wealthduringhis father's administration.Of the human rights victims, Marcos Jr. said of them in 1999: "They don't want an apology, they want money."He then proceeded to state that his family would apologize only if they had done something wrong.

When victims ofhuman rights abuses during his father's administrationcommemorated the 40th year of the proclamation of martial law in 2012, Marcos Jr. dismissed their calls for an apology for the atrocities as "self-serving statements by politicians, self-aggrandizement narratives, pompous declarations, and political posturing and propaganda."In theSydney Morning Heraldlater that year, Bongbong cited the various court decisions against the Marcos family as a reason not to apologize for Martial Law abuses, saying "we have a judgment against us in the billions. What more would people want?"

During his 2016 vice presidential campaign, Marcos responded to then-presidentBenigno Aquino III's criticism of the Marcos regime and call to oppose his election run. He dismissed the events, saying Filipinos should "leave history to the professors."This prompted over 500 faculty, staff and history professors from theAteneo de Manila Universityto immediately issue a statement condemning his dismissive retort as part of "an ongoing willful distortion of our history," and a "shameless refusal to acknowledge the crimes of the Martial Law regime."More than 1,400 Catholic schools, through the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), later joined the call of the Ateneo faculty "against the attempt of [Marcos] to canonize the harrowing horrors of martial rule."This was also followed by theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman's Department of History, which released a statement of its own, decrying what they called a "dangerous" effort for Marcos to create "myth and deception."

On September 20, 2018, Marcos Jr. released a YouTube video showing atête-à-têtebetween him and former senate presidentJuan Ponce Enrile,who had been his father's defense minister before playing a key role in his ouster during the 1986 EDSA revolution.The video made a number of claims, which were quickly refuted and denounced by martial law victims, including former senate presidentAquilino Pimentel Jr.,formerDSWDsecretaryJudy Taguiwalo,former Commission on Human Rights chairEtta Rosales,and writerBoni Ilagan,among others. Enrile later backpedaled from some of his claims, attributing them to "unlucid intervals."

Online presence

According to research byVera Files,Marcos benefited the most from fake news from the Philippines in 2017, along with President Rodrigo Duterte.Most viral news were driven by shares on networks of Facebook pages.Also, most Philippine audience Facebook pages and groups spreading online disinformation bore "Duterte", "Marcos" or "News" in their names and are pro-Duterte.

In July 2020,Brittany Kaiseralleged in an interview that Marcos had approached the controversial firmCambridge Analyticain order to "rebrand" the Marcos family image on social media.Marcos's spokesperson Vic Rodriguez denied these allegations and stated that Marcos is considering filing libel charges againstRappler,which published Kaiser's interview.

Impostor urban legend

Between the late 70s and early 80s, an urban legend became popular claiming that Marcos Jr. was stabbed and died during a scuffle while studying abroad. The Marcos family allegedly looked for Bongbong's look-alike to replace him. This was later debunked by Marcos in one of his vlogs. The origins of this urban legend remain unknown.

Tallano gold myth

See also:Tallano gold

In 1990, during a coverage of Imelda Marcos's trial in New York,Inquirerjournalist Kristina Luz interviewed then-33-year-old exiled Bongbong Marcos and asked where the Marcos wealth came from. Marcos responded "only I know where the gold is and how to get it". This was corroborated in a 1992 report by theAssociated Pressthat quoted Imelda Marcos saying that her husband's wealth came "from the Japanese and other gold he found afterWorld War II,and not from the Philippine coffers. "In 2007, Marcos informed the anti-graft courtSandiganbayanthat hisfather's wealth came from trading "precious metals more specifically gold from the years 1946 to 1954" when he tried to win back theOrtigas Payanig property in Pasigfrom the national government.

The myth surrounding the gold allegedly owned by the Marcos family has been the subject of various misinformation, as in 2011, a Facebook post claimed that a certain "Tallano clan" had paid Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in gold for his legal services. Several years later, supporters of the Marcos family in a Facebook page called "Marcos Cyber Warriors" also claimed that Marcos Sr.'s wealth came from his former law client, the "Maharlikan Tallano family".

This has resulted in a long-running belief that should Bongbong Marcos win as president, he will give Filipinos a share of this gold. However during hisPhilippine presidential election campaign in the 2022 elections,when asked overOne Newsto verify the mythical "Tallano gold"or the long-believed tale that they got a share of the JapaneseYamashita gold,Marcos denied knowledge of it, even joking that "people should let him know if they see any of that gold". The urban myth had allegedly been suggested or carried by various social media pages being run by Marcos supporters in order to engage more people to support his presidential bid.

Personal life

Thefirst familyat the sideline of the2024 State of the Nation Addresson June 22.

Marcos is married to lawyerLouise "Liza" Cacho Araneta,a member of the prominentAraneta family.Marcos and Araneta were married inFiesole,Italy, on April 17, 1993. They have three sons:Ferdinand Alexander III "Sandro"(born 1994), Joseph Simon (born 1995) and William Vincent "Vinny" (born 1997).Although he isIlocanobyethnic ancestry,he was brought up in aManileño householdand does not speak theIlocano language.The Marcos family maintains a residence inForbes Park,Makati.

Aside from his common nickname "Bongbong", Marcos is known by his peers as "Bonggets".Marcos is an avid listener ofrock and roll,rhythm and blues,andjazzmusic. He once held arecord collectionin Malacañang Palace that he described as "the best record collection in the Philippines" but left it when his family was exiled from the country in 1986. He is a fan ofthe Beatles,citingSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Bandas his favorite album of theirs, and often collectsthe band's memorabilia.Marcos can also play the saxophone.

Marcos exercises regularly and claims to abstain from consuming confections and soft drinks.Marcos is also an avid reader, acinephile,and a gun enthusiast, where he holds a competition under his name.He followsFormula Oneracing as a supporter ofScuderia Ferrari;during his presidency, he attended the2022and2023 Singapore Grand Prixwith Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loongand other foreign dignitaries.

President Marcos and First LadyLiza Araneta Marcos(left) at theinaugurationdinner of Indonesian PresidentPrabowo Subianto(center) on 20 October 2024

On March 31, 2020, Marcos's spokesperson confirmed that Marcos had tested positive forCOVID-19.Prior to getting tested, Marcos was reportedly experiencing chest pains after coming home from a trip to Spain. He has since recovered from the disease after testing negative on aRT-PCR teston May 5, 2020, a month after testing positive for COVID-19.On July 8, 2022, Marcos's press secretary confirmed that Marcos had tested positive again for COVID-19 after experiencing slight fever.

Alleged cocaine usage

On November 18, 2021, PresidentRodrigo Duterteclaimed in a televised speech that a certain candidate for the2022 Philippine presidential electionis allegedly usingcocaine,hinting at the candidate using male pronouns on several instances. Furthermore, Duterte alleged that the candidate eluded law enforcement authorities by doing drugs on a private yacht and a plane.Although he did not name the candidate, it was alluded that Duterte was referring to Marcos after he continued on his speech that the male candidate is a "weak leader" and has been "capitalizing onhis father's accomplishments ".Prior to that, Duterte previously named Marcos a "weak leader who had done nothing" and a "spoiled child for being an only son".

Days after Duterte's allegation, Marcos took a cocainedrug testthrough a urine sample atSt. Luke's Medical Center – Global Cityand submitted the negative result to law enforcement authorities with a follow-up online memo by the medical institution confirming the legitimacy of the test.

Marcos responded that he did not feel that he was the one alluded to by President Duterte. According tohealth care providerAmerican Addiction Centers,after the last use, cocaine or its metabolites can show up on a blood or saliva test for up to two days, a urine test for up to three days, and a hair test for months to years.In an interview withCNN Philippinesin April 2022, Marcos responded to Duterte's remarks on him being a "spoiled" and "weak leader", saying that the president was "playing politics" and was "always making sure everybody's thinking hard about what they're doing".

In an interview withANCin May 2022, former senatorNikki Coseteng,who claimed to personally know Marcos, alleged that Marcos was a "lazy individual" who frequenteddiscosand got high on illegal substances along with his socialite friends during his youth.Marcos has neither denied nor confirmed Coseteng's allegations.

In late January 2024, Marcos's alleged cocaine use was brought anew by Duterte, during a prayer rally againstCharter changeinDavao City.Duterte alleged that Marcos had once been included in thePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) drug watchlist (which the agency denied) and had been spotted using cocaine with his cohorts at a giant banana firm's plantation inDavao del Nortewhen Duterte was Mayor. Duterte said that these companions of Marcos were already working for his administration, and cited this as the reason why he did not vote for him in the 2022 general election. When asked by Marcos to prove the allegations, Duterte retorted that it is incumbent upon him to prove the allegations by taking a drug test, since he is the one holding public office.Marcos maintained he had never used illegal narcotics, let alone cocaine, and blamed Duterte's use offentanylas a response. In Duterte's defense, he had used fentanyl because it was prescribed to him by a "Dr. Javier", his alleged physician atSt. Luke's Medical Center – Quezon City,to alleviate pain from injuries sustained in a motorbike accident a few years ago.

PDEA leaks

In April 2023, leaked documents from thePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency(PDEA) circulated online, linking Marcos and actressMaricel Sorianoto illegal drugs. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, headed by SenatorRonald dela Rosa,later conducted a hearing on the matter and invited vlogger Maharlika to explain her involvement in the online circulation of the documents. Former PDEA investigation agent Jonathan Morales declared that the documents were authentic; PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo, on the other hand, claimed the documents were fake.

On May 20, 2024, thePhilippine Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugspanel citedPDEA agentJonathan Morales incontemptfor '"continuously lying".UponJinggoy Estrada'smotionandsecondedbyRonald dela Rosa,Morales was ordereddetainedforflipped-floppedreplies onPDS,inter alia. Earlier, a formerNational Police Commissionofficer, Eric "Pikoy" Santiago was also held in contempt of the Senate for being a "liar".On May 23, 2024, Morales and Santiago were released from custody according toSenate Sergeant-at-ArmsRoberto Ancan.In August 2024,San Fernando, PampangaMunicipal Trial Court Branch 9 Acting Presiding Judge Jason Alquiroz convicted Morales ofperjuryand sentenced him to four monthsimprisonmentand fined₱1,000.

External links

• Official website
• Senate biography

Marcos Family

• The Marcos Regime Research (MRR) programArchivedJune 23, 2023, at theWayback Machineby the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center
• The Martial Law Memorial Museum
• The Martial Law Chronicles Project