Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks to Reuters during an exclusive interview at his hotel in Washington, U.S., May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
WASHINGTON鈥擯resident Marcos dismissed criticism during an interview on Thursday that his presidential campaign played down the corruption and extravagance the Marcos family was known for during his father鈥檚 rule.
Marcos told Reuters at the end of a that his country鈥檚 citizens could not continue to fight decades-old social battles.
鈥淢y opposition would try to bring up this old issue. But of course, we answer to the voting public and the voting public has given their very clear and loud response to that and that they are not worried,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hese are not the things that Filipinos feel we must be talking about,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e need to be talking about livelihoods, about jobs, about education, about the economy.
鈥淎 fractured society that continues to fight battles that are 45 years old is selling itself short because it鈥檚 the future that we鈥檙e worried about, not the past.鈥�
During his campaign, critics said Marcos鈥� presidential bid tried to whitewash the corruption and authoritarianism associated with his father鈥檚 20-year rule.
The elder Ferdinand Marcos ruled for two decades starting in 1965, almost half of it under martial law, helping him extend his power until his overthrow and his family鈥檚 retreat into exile during a 鈥減eople power鈥� revolution.
During his rule the family name became associated with cronyism and billions of dollars鈥� worth of missing state wealth. The Marcos family denies wrongdoing.
Strategically vital
Marcos Sr died in exile in Hawaii in 1989, but his family returned to the Philippines to launch a comeback that culminated in his son鈥檚 election in May.
Marcos鈥� Washington visit has been the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years and included a summit on Monday with US President Joe Biden.
It was the latest of several high-level meetings Marcos has held with leaders of the United States and China, which are jostling for strategic advantage in the region.
US officials describe the Philippines as strategically vital to efforts to push back against China鈥檚 expanding influence, and Biden has courted Marcos, who still faces a US court judgment connected with $2 billion of plundered wealth under his father鈥檚 rule. As head of state Marcos is immune from US prosecution.
The Philippines and the United States have drawn closer since Marcos won his election, a change from the administration of Marcos鈥� predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who turned the Philippines sharply away from its oldest ally and built closer ties with China.