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Dictator's son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Junior
Photo: FRANCIS R. MALASIG / EPA
After the presidential election in the Philippines, hundreds of human rights activists and students demonstrated in front of the Electoral Commission office in Manila.
They accused the authority of electoral fraud and do not want to recognize the victory of the dictator's son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., which was expected after an unofficial count.
According to observers, thousands of citizens were unable to vote in Monday's vote due to malfunctioning vote counting machines.
In some counties, voters waited all night in front of the polling stations to wait for a repair or replacement - mostly in vain.
However, the electoral commission (Comelec) rejected calls for an extension of the vote and emphasized that the number of defective machines affected was very small.
»The people, the nation are now resisting«
The protesters carried placards that read, among other things: »Comelec, incompetent, prosecute!« and »Fight against electoral fraud«.
Many chanted: "The people, the nation are now resisting." The police intervened and broke up the rally.
According to an unofficial count, Marcos Jr. received almost twice as many votes as his closest competitor, opposition leader Leni Robredo.
However, only the Congress (consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives) can announce official results.
This is not expected for a few weeks.
However, it is almost certain that the controversial Marcos dynasty will regain power 36 years after being driven out of the island state.
The Marcos regime under Ferdinand (1917-1989) and his wife Imelda (now 92), who was known for her shoe craze, once made a name for themselves with murder, kleptocracy and the disappearance of political opponents without a trace.
The two are said to have diverted billions from the state coffers.
According to the calculations, Vice President will be Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who is internationally criticized for his brutal fight against drug-related crime.
"They both represent the worst type of traditional politics and governance in our nation's history," the human rights group Karapatan said in a statement.
muk/dpa