Marcoses among big winners

MANILA, Philippines - The wife and children of deposed strongman Ferdinand Marcos are poised to return to political power as revealed by the latest partial election results released yesterday.

With about 80 percent of the votes tallied from Monday’s elections, former first lady Imelda Marcos is leading the family in the return to political power.

The 80-year-old Marcos matriarch is poised to win the congressional election in the second district of Ilocos Norte.

Her only son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is among the 12 candidates assured of a seat at the Senate while eldest daughter Imee will become governor of the family’s home province of Ilocos Norte, beating first cousin and incumbent Michael Keon.

The victory of the three Marcoses marks a comeback for the family that was forced into exile in 1986 after the EDSA people power revolution that toppled them from power and installed opposition leader Corazon Aquino, whose son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is the apparent winner of Monday’s presidential elections.

It was also the first time that all three Marcoses participated in an election.

“I can’t believe this. This is the first time that I voted for my mother,” Bongbong remarked while voting at the Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School in Lacub, Batac.