Marcos, Ilocos Norte

History

Political violence

The small town of Marcos has seen multiple violent political attacks over the past years.

On February 4, 2013, Mayor Salvador Pillos survived an attack by two motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot him while he was inspecting a construction project.

On the afternoon of February 23, 2013, Barangay Fortuna chairman Alfredo Arce was gunned down by a gunman on the back of a motorcycle. Arce was shot in the chest and died on the spot.

On the evening of April 4, 2017, Vice Mayor Jessie Ermitanio survived an ambush and shootout while driving through an unpopulated section of the road between the Padsan River and the Daquioag Elementary School. The vice mayor's driver, Lucky Jesrel Rumbaoa, died from the gunshots; and, his security escort - Ricky Florendo - and Municipal Council staffer, Edralin Arellano, were injured.

On the morning of June 3, 2017, Mayor Arsenio Agustin was shot in the head and died on the spot after inspecting a project in Barangay Mabuti. Municipal employee Rusmar Valencia was also shot in the back. The mayor's bodyguards fired back at the gunman but the assailant evaded capture.

Mayor Agustin had been receiving death threats prior to the shooting and the vice mayor had requested a police escort after he believed he was being stalked when he served as acting mayor in October 2016.

Geography

Marcos is situated 26.27 km from the provincial capital Laoag, and 480.63 km from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Marcos is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

It is 29 km from Laoag, 510 km from Manila, 79 km from Bangued, and 28 km from Batac.

• Cacafean
• Daquioag
• Elizabeth (Culao)
• Escoda
• Ferdinand
• Fortuna
• Imelda (Capariaan)
• Lydia (Poblacion)
• Mabuti
• Pacifico (Agunit)
• Tabucbuc (Ragas)
• Santiago
• Valdez

There were 4 barangays named after Mariano Marcos' four children:

• Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989), who became president of the Philippines (1965–1986)
• Pacifico Marcos (1919-), a physician
• Elizabeth Marcos-Keon (1921-1986), former Ilocos Norte governor (1971-1983) and mother of Michael Marcos Keon
• Fortuna Marcos-Barba (1931-2018)

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Marcos was 18,105 people, with a density of {{sigfig|18,105/72.77|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Marcos, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Education

The Marcos-Nueva Era Schools District Office governs all private and public schools within the municipalities of Marcos, and Nueva Era.

Primary and elementary schools

• Biding Elementary School
• Cacafean Elementary School
• Elizabeth Elementary School
• Escoda Elementary School
• F. Daquioag Memorial Elementary School
• Ferdinand Elementary School
• Fortuna Elementary School
• Imelda Elementary School
• Kids' Kollege, Marcos I. Norte
• Mabuti Elementary School
• Marcos Central Elementary School
• Pacifico Elementary School
• Santiago Elementary School
• Tabucbuc Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Marcos National High School
• Marcos National High School (Agunit Campus)
• Marcos National High School (Santiago Campus)

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (2013-02-09). "Ilocos mayors ask Comelec: Give our bodyguards back".
3. "Ilocos Norte mayoral candidate shot dead". Rappler.
4. Adriano, Leilanie. "Ilocos Norte vice mayor survives ambush, driver killed". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
5. Adriano, Leilanie. "Ilocos Norte town mayor, municipal employee shot dead". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
6. "Ilocos Norte town mayor Arsenio Agustin shot dead". Rappler.
7. "2019 National and Local Elections".
8. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".