Duterte ahead in unofficial count to be Philippines president

A brash mayor known for sex jokes and a pledge to end crime within six months – by killing suspected criminals if necessary – strongly led an unofficial vote count in Monday’s Philippine presidential election, while the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos led in the vice presidential race.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reached out to his opponents following a bruising three-month campaign in which President Benigno Aquino III led efforts to discourage Filipinos from voting for him due to fears the mayor may endanger the country’s hard-fought democracy.

“Let us be friends,” Duterte said in a news conference after voting in southern Davao city. “Let us begin the process of healing.”

In the unofficial count based on partial results transmitted electronically from voting centres nationwide, Duterte had more than 12.2 million votes, followed by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with 7.0 million. Sen. Grace Poe had 6.9 million votes, and Vice President Jejomar Binay was next with 4.1 million.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jnr led with 11.1 million votes in an unofficial count of the vice presidential race, followed by Leni Robredo, who had 10.4 million.

Vice presidents are elected separately from presidents in the Philippines.