Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is the current President of the Philippines. He is newsworthy due to a confluence of domestic and international issues. A revived corruption investigation implicates him in a kickback scheme, stemming from the arrest of Zaldy Co, who accuses Marcos of benefiting from flood control projects. Simultaneously, political tensions are rising, with a jailed witness alleging that former President Duterte plotted to oust Marcos, and Vice-President Sara Duterte leading early presidential polls despite impeachment proceedings. On the foreign policy front, Marcos is navigating complex relationships with China, particularly regarding joint oil exploration in the South China Sea, and seeking assurances from Iran for safe passage of Philippine vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid an energy crisis. He is also pushing for anti-disinformation laws and renaming islands in the South China Sea to assert sovereignty. These events highlight the challenges Marcos faces in balancing domestic stability, economic pressures, and geopolitical tensions.