PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. said the “survival” of his family and the need to defend the legacy of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, prompted him to join politics after their return in 1991 from exile in Hawaii.
The President, in a dialogue with World Economic Forum (WEF) President Bí¸rge Brende in Davos in Switzerland on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), said he did not want to go into politics because he has witnessed difficulties and sacrifices that his father had to make to ensure that he does a good job as president.
The elder Marcos’ ruled from 1965 when he was elected president until February 1986 when the family fled to Hawaii amid a “people power” uprising.
Marcos Jr described the exile years as “dark days” for his family.
He also said that when they returned to the country in 1991, “the political issue was Marcos,” and he recognized there is a need to defend the family.
“For us to defend ourselves politically, somebody had to enter politics and be in the political arena. So that at least, not only the legacy of my father but even our own survival required that somebody go into politics,” he said.
Marcos ran as representative of Ilocos Norte in 1992. After serving at the House of Representatives, he became governor of Ilocos Norte in 1998, returned to the House in 2007, and became a senator in 2010. He ran for vice president in 2016 but lost to Leni Robredo.
The President said when they were in exile, he had no idea that he would join politics because they were not even sure they would return to the Philippines. He said his father was not even able to return physically as he died in Hawaii in 1989.
The President said he learned a lot from his father, which gave him a “good idea” of what his job entails.
“At least, I know what needs to be done and I have a fair idea how it used to be done. I have models, I have templates to follow,” he said.
