Rodrigo Duterte set to become Phillipines President

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is set to become the country's President. With nearly 90 per cent of the votes counted, Duterte has won almost 39 per cent and is ahead by more than 5 million votes. 

An Election Commission-accredited watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting said, government's candidate Manuel Roxas was second with 8.9 million, followed by Grace Poe with 8.3 million votes.

The winner is decided on a simple majority of votes cast. Claiming victory during a local TV



broadcast in which he spoke for more than two hours, Duterte emphasized the fight against crime as his priority. Duterte has been the long time front runner in a campaign also driven by the economy and corruption.

Five candidates contested in the election for the presidency to succeed Benigno Aquino III, whose six year term ends on June 30th. The 71-year old Mayor is known to have made Davao one of the safest cities in the Philippines through tough regulations and iron fist approach in crime fighting.