The dictator’s son is the favourite to win presidential race, reviving memories of a painful era for many

Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator who ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, was the nation’s most decorated hero of the second world war. Under his rule, the armed forces were the most advanced in Asia. Even more impressive: his family owns enormous quantities of gold, enough to save the world (it was given to Marcos by a royal family as payment for acting as their lawyer). It will be shared with the people if they regain power.

The claims are all false. But that hasn’t stop them from echoing across social media, saturating news feeds across the Philippines.

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.