‘A nightmare’: How the return of the Marcos family is viewed with fear in the Philippines

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, the son of the dictator who brutally ruled the Philippines for years and then fled with billions, became the country’s president on Thursday. Many still cannot believe the shamed family is back in power, reports Rory Sullivan

Ferdinand Marcos Jr at his inauguration ceremony today, left, and Marcos Sr during his presidency in 1985 (Getty/The Independent)

On 25 February 1986, Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator of the Philippines, fled his country in a US Air Force plane stuffed with relatives, cronies and spectacular wealth.

The toppled ruler landed in Hawaii with the possessions his family and their helpers had hastily packed, including dozens of solid-gold bars and millions of dollars in cash. This was but a small glimpse into the $10bn (£8.2bn) fortune the family were said to have amassed at the expense of the state.

Back on the ground in his newly liberated country, Boni Ilagan, who had been imprisoned and tortured for his role in the anti-Marcos resistance movement, was celebrating his people’s freedom.