By Neil Jerome Morales

MANILA, Reuters – The Philippines’ president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears all but certain of achieving a supermajority at Congress. On Wednesday, a proclamation indicating winners was issued. It will boost his prospects of advancing his legislative agenda in the months ahead.

Only two out of the twelve candidates who were declared the winners of Senate seats in the election commission’s report said they had teamed up with Marcos’s political “Uniteam,” adding to an existing lower house, which was presided over by those parties.

Marcos is the name and son of the dictator who was thrown from power by a revolt in 1986. However, many analysts believe that he will continue to lead from the place Rodrigo Duterte has left.

Ranjit Rye, University of the Philippines political science professor, stated that it will be very easy for the new administration to achieve their legislative goals given the support from the local government as well as political families.

Marcos (64), who was elected last week in a huge landslide victory, inherits an economic system that is stronger but must raise revenues to pay for infrastructure projects and address large debts incurred by Duterte’s massive borrowing.

Marcos had a majority of the legislative vote expected, and opponents expressed their concern that Marcos would push for constitutional changes to cement his rule over generations.

Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte Carpio (the president’s running mate) formed a crucial alliance that could help ensure Congress support and to co-opt lawmakers loyal to her father.

They join 12 other incumbent senators, most of whom were Duterte supporters, who were elected at midterm in 2019.

Cynthia Villar (wife of a billionaire) is highly expected to run for Senate president. Her son, Marcos, also ran under Marcos’s Uniteam.

According to analysts, Marcos’s cousin Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is most likely to be the lower house speaker. He has received support pledges from the vast majority of 300 new lower house legislators, including Marcos’s oldest son.

Karapatan’s secretary general for rights, Cristina Palabay said that Marcos’ backing does not bode well in terms of checks and balances.

Palabay declared, “It’s worrisome Marcos and Duterte allies”

“His priorities, agenda and political goals can reflect his father’s and Duterte governments.”