MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-four years after their disgraceful fall from power, the Marcoses have made big comeback in politics, with the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’s only son and namesake Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. poised to sit as a legislator in the upper house, the Senate.

The young Marcos has consistently placed 7th place in partial counts of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Tuesday with only around 20% of precincts left to count.

Both the poll body and the poll watchdog expect to finish counting by the end of the day.

After losing in his first try at the Senate in 1995, Marcos Jr. has finally succeeded in his 2nd attempt. It is the highest public position a Marcos has held since the first EDSA "People Power" revolt in 1986.

Meanwhile, in Ilocos Norte, Marcos Jr.’s sister, Imee, was leading the gubernatorial race with 196,160 votes, as of posting time. 

Incumbent Governor Michael Marcos Keon, their cousin, was a far second with 86,005.

Local observers said Imee’s lead over the incumbent governor is the biggest lead recorded in the province’s gubernatorial race.

First Lady Imelda Marcos, meanwhile, was also poised to sit again as congresswoman.

She was leading by at least 80,000 votes over lawyer Mariano Nalupta Jr. in the congressional race for the province’s 2nd District.

Mrs. Marcos is a former representative of a congressional district in her home province of Leyte. She joined but lost in the 1992 presidential race. She came 5th out of 7 presidential candidates.

Another family member, Angelo Marcos Barba, was also leading in the province’s vice-gubernatorial race. – with a report from Randy Menor, ABS-CBN Ilocos