Manila - Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was sworn in as Philippine president Thursday in one of the greatest political comebacks in recent history but which opponents say was pulled off by whitewashing his family’s image.

His rise to power, 36 years after an army-backed “People Power” revolt booted his father to global infamy, upends politics in the Asian democracy, where a public holiday, monuments and the Philippine Constitution stand as reminders of his father’s tyrannical rule.

His inauguration marks a stunning comeback for the Marcos political dynasty, which was ousted after a popular revolt in 1986.
Mr Marcos Jr - nicknamed Bong Bong - won an election landslide last month.

Activists and survivors of the martial law-era under his father protested Marcos Jr.’s inauguration, which took place at a noontime ceremony at the steps of the National Museum in Manila. Thousands of police officers, including anti-riot contingents, SWAT commandos and snipers, were deployed in the bayside tourist district for security.

Marcos Jr. received more than 31 million votes and Sara Duterte more than 32 million of the more than 55 million votes cast in the May 9 election.

Sara Duterte, the daughter of the outgoing president, is being sworn in as vice-president. Mr Marcos Jr took his oath of office at midday local time (0400GMT) in a colourful ceremony at the National Museum.

Earlier he was received by President Duterte - who wore a traditional formal white shirt unbuttoned at the collar and with its sleeves rolled up - at the Malacanang presidential palace. Some 15,000 security personnel have been deployed across the Philippines capital for the event. The inauguration comes just a few days after the Supreme Court in Manila ruled that convictions for tax evasion did not disqualify the new president from taking office.

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, were among foreign dignitaries attending.

-AP