Benigno Aquino is set to become the next Philippine president. Photograph: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty ImagesSon of former president Corazon Aquino vows to fight corruption as count puts him ahead in presidential poll
Tuesday 11 May 2010
Associated Press in Manila
guardian.co.uk
Benigno Aquino III, the son of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, promised today to fulfil his campaign promise to fight corruption as he headed for a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections. "I will not only not steal, but I'll have the corrupt arrested," Aquino, 50, said in his first comments since yesterday's poll. Massive corruption has long dogged the Philippines, tainting electoral politics and skimming billions of public funds in a country where a third of the population lives on $1 a day.
Aquino, whose father was assassinated while opposing Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship and whose mother led the 1986 "people power" revolt that restored democracy, was leading the nine-candidate presidential race with 40.2% of the votes from about 78% of the precincts, while his closest rival, ousted President Joseph Estrada, had 25.5%.
There is no runoff in the Philippines, home to 90 million people, and whoever has the most votes is declared winner.
Despite glitches with new computerised counting machines and violence that has claimed at least 12 lives, election officials hailed yesterday's vote as a success in a country where poll fraud allegations have marred previous contests. Turnout was 75% among about 50 million eligible voters, the elections commission said.
Tuesday 11 May 2010
Associated Press in Manila
guardian.co.uk
Benigno Aquino III, the son of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, promised today to fulfil his campaign promise to fight corruption as he headed for a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections. "I will not only not steal, but I'll have the corrupt arrested," Aquino, 50, said in his first comments since yesterday's poll. Massive corruption has long dogged the Philippines, tainting electoral politics and skimming billions of public funds in a country where a third of the population lives on $1 a day.
Aquino, whose father was assassinated while opposing Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship and whose mother led the 1986 "people power" revolt that restored democracy, was leading the nine-candidate presidential race with 40.2% of the votes from about 78% of the precincts, while his closest rival, ousted President Joseph Estrada, had 25.5%.
There is no runoff in the Philippines, home to 90 million people, and whoever has the most votes is declared winner.
Despite glitches with new computerised counting machines and violence that has claimed at least 12 lives, election officials hailed yesterday's vote as a success in a country where poll fraud allegations have marred previous contests. Turnout was 75% among about 50 million eligible voters, the elections commission said.
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