COVID tames race to replace Duterte as Philippine president
Al JazeeraZamboanga del Norte, Philippines – Wading through a crowd of supporters, Vice President Leni Robredo moved carefully as a group of teens started to gather around her, hoisting their phone cameras, ready to take selfies. “If Bongbong Marcos wins, it affirms that Duterte’s victory is not just a blip in post-Marcos political history,” said Robin Michael Garcia, head of WR Numero, a technology-driven polling and data analytics firm based in Manila, using Marcos Jr’s nickname. Marcos and Duterte-Carpio tandem Analysts say Duterte’s political machinery has mobilised behind Marcos Jr even though Duterte himself has referred to Marcos Jr as a “weak leader”. Even before he declared his presidential bid in October, Marcos Jr had leveraged his 4.4 million Facebook followers to spread his message and woo voters through “virtual campaign caravans” and online “meet-and-greet” events. Marcos’ toughest challenger As vice president, Robredo is considered the Philippines’ leading opposition figure and Marcos Jr’s toughest challenger.