• Philippines presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr arrives at his campaign headquarters, in Manila. Bloomberg
    Philippines presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr arrives at his campaign headquarters, in Manila. Bloomberg
  • Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Junior cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Manila. Mr Marcos Jr was leading by landslide, with most of the votes counted. EPA
    Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Junior cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Manila. Mr Marcos Jr was leading by landslide, with most of the votes counted. EPA
  • Supporters of presidential candidate and Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo take a part in a prayer vigil after the final result of votes in Manila. AFP
    Supporters of presidential candidate and Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo take a part in a prayer vigil after the final result of votes in Manila. AFP
  • Protesters stage a demonstration against results showing Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos winning the presidency, in front of the Commission on Elections headquarters, in Manila. EPA
    Protesters stage a demonstration against results showing Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos winning the presidency, in front of the Commission on Elections headquarters, in Manila. EPA
  • Supporters of Mr Marcos Jr celebrate as partial results of the elections show him with a wide lead over rivals, in Mandaluyong City. Reuters
    Supporters of Mr Marcos Jr celebrate as partial results of the elections show him with a wide lead over rivals, in Mandaluyong City. Reuters
  • Demonstrators rally in front of the Commission on Elections offices. AFP
    Demonstrators rally in front of the Commission on Elections offices. AFP
  • Students and activists sing during the rally. AP
    Students and activists sing during the rally. AP
  • Vice President Leni Robredo speaks to journalists after the election, at her home in Magarao, Camarines Norte. EPA
    Vice President Leni Robredo speaks to journalists after the election, at her home in Magarao, Camarines Norte. EPA
  • Supporters of Ms Robredo take a part in a prayer vigil. AFP
    Supporters of Ms Robredo take a part in a prayer vigil. AFP
  • As her supporters rallied, Ms Robredo urged them to listen to the “voice of the people”, referring to the unofficial vote count that pointed to victory for Mr Marcos Jr. Reuters
    As her supporters rallied, Ms Robredo urged them to listen to the “voice of the people”, referring to the unofficial vote count that pointed to victory for Mr Marcos Jr. Reuters
  • Supporters of Mr Marcos Jr cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Manila. Bloomberg
    Supporters of Mr Marcos Jr cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Manila. Bloomberg
  • Millions of people flocked to voting centres across the country for the national elections. EPA
    Millions of people flocked to voting centres across the country for the national elections. EPA

Who is new Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr?


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Ferdinand Marcos Jr has been sworn in as president of the Philippines after he claimed victory in the Philippines presidential election by a landslide.

The presidency comes more than three decades after his dictator father Ferdinand Marcos was forced to flee the country in an uprising, and his inauguration was marked by protests over his father's 21-year rule.

Mr Marcos Jr held an unassailable lead of more than 16 million votes after 98 per cent were counted following May's election, and overall he received more than 31 million votes.

After his proclamation he said: "I ask you all pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when the president does well, the country does well."

But who Ferdinand Marcos Jr he and how did he win the election?

Who is Ferdinand Marcos Jr?

The win by Mr Marcos Jr, 64, nicknamed "Bongbong", is an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” pro-democracy revolt that removed his father.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr's apparent victory marks an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” pro-democracy revolt that booted his father into global infamy. AP
Ferdinand Marcos Jr's apparent victory marks an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” pro-democracy revolt that booted his father into global infamy. AP

His win follows a whitewashing of his family's past.

In the 36 years since the popular uprising pushed the Marcoses into US exile, they have been rebuilding their political fortunes.

Despite his own father's concerns about his "carefree and lazy" nature, Mr Marcos Jr made it to the ultimate post.

After narrowly losing the vice presidential race to Ms Robredo in the 2016 election, he was determined their rematch in the presidential contest would end differently.

Vowing to unify the country, Mr Marcos Jr made sweeping promises on the campaign trail to boost jobs and tackle rising prices in the lower middle-income country.

"Unity is my cause because of my firm belief that unity is the first step towards getting out of this crisis we are now in," Mr Marcos Jr said in February, without explaining further what the slogan meant.

How did Marcos Jr become president?

Growing up in the presidential palace in Manila, Mr Marcos Jr wanted to be an astronaut before he followed in his father's footsteps into politics.

He served as vice governor and twice as governor of the family's northern stronghold of Ilocos Norte province, and also had stints in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

His mother Imelda, 92, said she had dreamt of him becoming the country's leader.

Ferdinand Marcos, with his wife Imelda at his side and Ferdinand Marcos Jr, far right, on the balcony of Malacanang Palace in February 1986 in Manila, soon after taking the oath of office as president of the Philippines. AP
Ferdinand Marcos, with his wife Imelda at his side and Ferdinand Marcos Jr, far right, on the balcony of Malacanang Palace in February 1986 in Manila, soon after taking the oath of office as president of the Philippines. AP

Mr Marcos Jr's links to his father, whose rule was marked by the bloody repression of the martial law years, have made him one of the nation's most polarising politicians.

He has benefited from a deluge of misinformation on social media aimed at a largely young electorate with no memory of the corruption, killings and other abuses committed during his father's 20-year rule.

His campaign was bolstered by teaming up with Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who won the vice presidential race comfortably, and the backing of other political elites.

Mr Marcos Jr and Ms Duterte's shared history as the offspring of authoritarian leaders has alarmed rights groups and many in the religious clergy, who fear they will use their victory to entrench themselves in power.

Has he defended his father's presidency?

Mr Marcos Jr was at boarding school in Britain in 1972 when his father declared martial law, unleashing large-scale corruption and a bloody crackdown on dissent.

He has defended his father's rule by citing the initial surge of economic growth and government spending under martial law, which he said was necessary to save the country from communist rebels and Islamist extremists.

While he describes his father as a "political genius", Mr Marcos Jr has distanced himself from the charges of pillaging state coffers and economic mismanagement that later impoverished the nation.

After the fallen dictator's death in Hawaii in 1989, the Marcoses returned home and began their remarkable revival, getting elected to a succession of higher positions.

Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila on Monday. EPA
Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr cheer outside his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila on Monday. EPA

The family's turnaround has been aided by public disenchantment over an enduring gulf between the rich and poor, and graft allegations that marred post-Marcos administrations.

Seeking to avoid a repeat of the 2016 campaign, when he was hounded by questions about his family's past, Mr Marcos Jr this time snubbed debates with rivals and gave few interviews.

Opponents tried in vain to have him disqualified from the race over a previous tax conviction.

They also accused him of exaggerating his educational qualifications and the family of failing to pay nearly $4 billion in estate taxes.

Was he supported by his predecessor Duterte?

Until recently, Mr Duterte was a supporter of Mr Marcos Jr.

But although his party endorsed Mr Marcos Jr for president, Mr Duterte called him a "weak" leader.

This fuelled speculation that Mr Duterte, who faces an international probe into his deadly war on drugs, was trying to secure assurances from Mr Marcos Jr for when he is out of office.

In the final week of campaigning, as Ms Robredo appeared to be gaining momentum, Mr Marcos Jr gave a warning about vote-rigging, without providing any evidence.

"We will win as long as you stay awake on Monday," Mr Marcos Jr told fans at his final campaign rally.

"Many undesirable things happen if we stop paying attention."

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Profile of Tamatem

Date started: March 2013

Founder: Hussam Hammo

Based: Amman, Jordan

Employees: 55

Funding: $6m

Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media

The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe

Four stars

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The biog

Age: 19 

Profession: medical student at UAE university 

Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)

Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe 

The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

Updated: June 30, 2022, 6:34 AM