After a landslide win, the Philippine congress, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, proclaimed the victory of Marcos and Duterte.

They are now the new highest leaders of the country. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, the namesake and son of late dictator Marcos Sr, has followed in his father’s footsteps after being jobless since losing in the 2016 vice presidential elections. Meanwhile, vice president-elect Sara Duterte, Marcos’ running mate, has also followed in her father’s footsteps as she was Davao city’s mayor like outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte.

The proclamation of Marcos and Duterte was met by a rally conducted by members of Marcos critics and human rights activists. They are very much opposing the Marcos-Duterte proclamation. 

“Never Again. Never Again to Martial Law” shouted the activists as they marched to the office of Commission on Human Rights. 

They tried to pass Commonwealth avenue but they were barricaded by the police. The protesters have no permit hence they were stopped. The police called for reinforcements, and had a fire truck to wet the protestors and order them to stop pushing their barricade. 

According to the protestors, 16  were injured during the rally. A bus of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) parked behind the line of policemen. They threatened the protestors that if they were to continue pushing the barricade the protestors would be put in the bus. 

The tension subsided when the protestors decided to just rally in the same place, where they exclaimed their protests against the proclamation of Marcos and Duterte. While activists were on the streets, netizens online were also expressing their dismay of the proclamation as “Only in the Philippines”, and “Tama nga kami” trends with a statement from Senator Imee Marcos saying “What’s most important to us of course, our name, the family name that has become so controversial–the legacy of my father is what we hope will be clarified at last.”