Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, has kept his lead in the race to replace Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, in spite of criticisms over his family’s alleged past atrocities.
In the latest survey released by Pulse Asia Research Inc on Wednesday, 56 per cent of 2,400 respondents said they would vote for former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos Jr, also known by his nickname Bongbong, is the country’s next president.
“The ex-lawmaker’s presidential bid is supported by near to sizeable majorities across geographic areas and socio-economic classes,’’ Pulse Asia said as it released the March 17-21 survey.
His closest rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, gained nine percentage points from the February survey to get 24 per cent of the votes, the research firm said.
Former actor and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso placed third with eight per cent, followed by world boxing icon and Senator, Manny Pacquiao, with six per cent.
The former police chief and Senator Panfilo Lacson had two per cent.
Marcos Jr’s campaign has received condemnation from opponents of his father’s 20-year rule, which was toppled by a people power revolt 36 years ago amid widespread allegations of corruption and human rights abuses.
The Ferdinand Marcos rule was also marked by excessive spending by the family, led by former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
She was notorious for amassing 3,000 pairs of shoes and a huge collection of jewellery.
Marcos Jr has also been lambasted for failing to pay taxes worth 203 billion pesos ($4.06 billion) for his father’s estate, and a 1995 conviction for failing to file tax returns from 1982-1985.
