MANILA - Over three decades since their patriarch's ouster after a regime marred by corruption and human rights abuses, the Marcos family set foot in Malacañang anew during the oath-taking of Senator-elect Imee Marcos before President Rodrigo Duterte.

In photos posted in their official social media accounts, Marcos siblings Imee and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. shared their photos during their return to the halls of power on Tuesday, albeit briefly.

"Back in Malacañang for @ManangImee's oath-taking with President Duterte. We could hardly contain our excitement seeing her finally fulfill her dream of serving our people in the Senate," said Bongbong, who lost the May 2016 vice-presidential race to Leni Robredo.

"Led by Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, the family gathered in front of the portrait of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos," Imee's Facebook post read.

Also in the photos were Irene Marcos and the Marcos siblings' respective children.

Their photos have since made rounds in social media, with critics slamming the Marcoses' return to power.

"In one snapshot -- here is a political dynasty and the prime governance failure of the country. Dynasties control power in our country and keep on going back to the trough," said Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza, whose Facebook entry has been shared 2,500 times as of this posting.

Economist JC Punongbayan said the public must "not forget the abysmal legacy of the Marcos dictatorship, which perpetrated thousands of human rights violations, committed large-scale corruption, and left our economy in shambles."

It could be recalled that in a 4-day uprising in 1986, millions of Filipinos trooped to EDSA to stand against the regime, triggered by massive cheating in the snap elections.

In February 25, 1986, the Marcos family hurriedly left Malacañang Palace, their residence for decades, for the United States.

• TIMELINE: EDSA People Power Revolution

RETURN TO POWER

The family has embarked on a political revival while thousands who suffered under the late dictator's two-decade rule still cry for justice.

Marcos Jr., has a pending electoral protest against Robredo, an ally of the family's political nemesis and Duterte's immediate predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

His mother Imelda is set to finish her term as Ilocos Norte representative. In December 2018, Imelda posted bail after the Sandiganbayan 5th Division found her guilty of 7 counts of graft for using her position to maintain Swiss bank accounts during her late husband's rule.

The Marcos family is an ally of Duterte, who had allowed the late strongman's burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016.

The Marcoses allegedly plundered $10 billion from state coffers during their reign and only $4 billion in cash and assets have been recovered by an anti-graft body formed by his successor, the late president Corazon Aquino.