Images of a besuited Ferdinand Marcos Jr., clothed in a top hat and leaning casually on a Rolls-Royce, dating from his time in Britain in the 1970s, are typical of a kleptocratic dictator’s playboy scion.

However, as the Marcos family returns to power in the Philippines with Marcos Jr’s landslide presidential victory, he is under pressure to stop misrepresenting the circumstances of his studies at Oxford.

He did not complete his degree in philosophy, politics, and economics after starting in 1975, according to the institution.

“According to our records, he did not complete his degree, but was awarded a special diploma in social studies in 1978,” the University of Oxford replied in response to a freedom of information request from a UK-based Filipino supporter of Marcos Jr’s closest competitor in last week’s election.

Marcos Jr., dubbed “Bongbong,” has claimed in interviews that Oxford awarded him a bachelor’s degree, while his official spokeswoman has stated that the politician and his staff “stand by the degree confirmation issued by the University of Oxford.”

His Web site states: “He completed his undergraduate studies at Oxford University and graduated with a special diploma in social studies.”

The freedom of information requester, a UK-based supporter of Marcos Jr’s competitor Leni Robredo, said of Marcos Jr: “He should stop misrepresenting his special credential, which is plainly not a degree.” It’s clear he did not complete undergraduate studies.”

The controversy over Marcos Jr’s Oxford degree initially arose seven years ago, when his biography on the Philippines Senate website indicated that he had earned an Oxford degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Last year, newly leaked letters revealed that his father’s envoys persuaded senior authorities at the university’s St Edmund Hall to protect the son’s academic career after he failed examinations several times.

Documents previously released revealed that Marcos Jr failed two of his three preliminary exams at Oxford in the summer of 1976, subsequently doing only enough to pass one of two resits – failing politics for the second time.

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com