A tough-taking mayor from the Philippines, who is known for his strong stance against crime and drugs, is leading the latest vote count for president following the country's general elections Monday, May 9. Rodrigo Duterte, who was lauded as 'The Punisher' and the 'Dirty Harry of the Philippines,' is also likened to Donald Trump for his brazen and vulgar statements.
As of Philippine election poll time, May 10 at 8:17 a.m., Rodrigo Duterte's votes are at 38.7 percent or 15,083,499. The administration's candidate, Manuel Roxas, the scion of one of Philippine's richest families, trails behind Duterte at 23.2 percent or 9,056,433 votes, per local news site Rappler.
Philippine Election Results 2016: Duterte Shocks The World
Rodrigo Duterte, 71, surged through the surveys in the Philippine elections despite a number of cringe-worthy statements during his campaign sorties. He did not mince his words and cussed during his election speeches.
Rodrigo Duterte has alluded to extra-judiciary measures for druggies, rapist and criminals. He has hinted about making peace with communist rebels and he openly talked about his affairs and Viagra use in the media.
A month before voting, Rodrigo Duterte was in hot water for allegedly making a rape joke involving an Australian missionary. The former city mayor was attacked by various groups who demanded that he apologize for the joke, per ABC Australia.
In November, Rodrigo Duterte also cursed Pope Francis during a campaign sortie. But in these instances, the incoming Philippine president's shocking statements have been misconstrued. Inquirer reports that Pope Francis sent a letter to Rodrigo Duterte in February to "offer the assurance of his prayers."
Anti-establishment firebrand Rodrigo #Duterte storms to huge win in the Philippine presidential elections https://t.co/illVYrboc9
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 9, 2016
Days before Filipinos were to cast their votes in the Philippine elections, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, a candidate for vice-president, alluded that Duterte had been keeping a bank account with billions of pesos and failed to declare this on his Statement of Assets and Liablities. The bank has officially disproved Trillanes' claims and Rodrigo Duterte still held his lead in the surveys.
Philippine Election Results 2016: The Real Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Duterte first served as mayor of Davao City in southern Philippines in 1988 and is credited for changing the city's image. From being known as the "Nicaragua of Asia" in the 90s, Davao has rose to become one of the clean and safest cities in the world.
In 2015, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) awarded Duterte with the Seal of Local Governance Award for Rodrigo Duterte's work in Davao. It was his presidential rival, Roxas, who gave the award, per Sun Star Davao.
At dawn on May 10, with unofficial and still-unfinished vote counts showing Rodrigo Duterte's wide lead, the former mayor and soon-to-be Philippine president visited his parents' grave and cried his heart out. He also extended his hand to his opponents and offered healing after an election marred with black propaganda.
"This will be my 11th election in my life, I never experienced defeat. Maybe this time, if it's God's will. But If I win, I'll do my job," Rodrigo Duterte said, per another Inquirer report.
