Unofficial Vote Count Shows Rodrigo Duterte Has Won Presidential Election in the Philippines

[DCBob]

Source: Time

Rodrigo Duterte, the controversial mayor of Davao City, appeared to win the presidential election in the Philippines on Monday night, besting four challengers despite a campaign marred by rape jokes, death threats and various obscenities.

An unofficial vote count cited by the Associated Press showed the 71-year-old former lawyer and prosecutor prevailing in the contest to replace outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, who was ineligible for reelection after a single six-year term. Under Philippine election law, the candidate with the most votes wins even without a clear majority. As of 1 a.m. local time, Duterte had won 38% of the vote, ahead of his closest rival by about 15 percentage points.

Following a combative campaign, which culminated in Aquino comparing Duterte to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the president-elect pledged reconciliation in his first news conference held just as polls closed.

“Let the healing begin now,” he told assembled media in Davao City’s Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Read more: http://time.com/4322806/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-presidential-election-wins/

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Its going to be interesting to see how this guy actually governs the country. He did great things as Mayor of Davao.. a major city in Mindanao which is in the southern part of the country.

He is being called the "Filipino Trump" for his brash talking but that is not fair as Duterte is the real deal. He is a self made man, lawyer, and long time mayor and a great proponent for the poor people and vigorously anti-crime and anti-corruption. He is actually more like Bernie Sanders than Trump... imo.

He is a bit of a "loose cannon" literally but he is very well thought of in the Philippines for cleaning up Davao city.

Popular with the locals due to his successful zero tolerance policies against criminals, he was given the nickname "The Punisher" by Time. Vigilante groups tied to Duterte are thought to be responsible for the execution of drug traffickers, criminals, gang members and other lawless elements. Over a period of 20 years, he turned Davao City from the "murder capital of The Philippines" to what tourism organisations now describe as “the most peaceful city in southeast Asia,” and what numbeo.com ranks as the world's fourth safest place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Duterte

Its probably the safest cleanest place in all of the Philippines. This guy appears to be the "benevolent dictator" type that many countries like the Philippines needs to clean up deep rooted problems of corruption and crime.

[Gomez163]

1. This is horrible. What a loathsome man.

[DCBob]

2. I cant defend some of crap he has said but Filipinos love him.

[Gomez163]

3. He has unofficial death squads. Scary, evil man.

[DCBob]

6. The filipinos dont care.. in fact they seem to like the idea.

Traditional law enforcement doesnt work well in the Philippines... because even the officers are corrupt. The people are tired of the rampant crime and corruption and want someone to clean it up no matter what it takes.

[Gomez163]

7. This is a bad precedent. Then get rid of the corrupt officers.

You don't throw out the constitution.

[DCBob]

9. That's the problem.. no one is able to do that.

Fear or complacency or corruption.. it just never gets done.

[joshcryer]

4. Worst part is...

...he'll probably succeed. It'll become a self imposed junta.

Lots of people going to die though.

[forest444]

5. Far-right kleptocrats using crime as a political battle horse is all the rage right now.

Last edited Mon May 9, 2016, 09:08 PM - Edit history (1)

We've got Trump, of course; but similar cases include Argentina's Mauricio Macri, Guatemala's Jimmy Morales, Peru's Keiko Fujimori, Poland's Andrzej Duda, and of course the intrepid Mr. Duterte in the Philippines.

Progressives should never allow themselves to be pigeon-holed as "coddling criminals" - a every effective tactic by the far right. They themselves are no better at solving crime problems where they exist; but their rhetoric makes the public feel as though they "get it."

This tactic should never be underestimated, however cynical.

[DCBob]

8. The guy is very different from Trump.. even though the media is portraying him that way.

I see Dutarte as more of a "benevolent dictator" type that many countries like the Philippines needs to root out deep seated crime and corruption. We shall see how this turns but the people really love and respect this guy and he might be able to make some real changes for the good.

[forest444]

13. I hope you're right.

They certainly deserve, and need, someone who can bring law and order without the despotic element so often present in those who promise to do so.

[KamaAina]

10. "Rodrigo Duterte" sounds like Tagalog for "Donald Trump".

[ReRe]

11. Do they have a...

... decent "Secret Service" to protect him? If he truly is a leader for the common man, I'm not sure he will be around long. You know how hated those kinds of leaders are. Peace? Common man? Truth? Justice? Get my drift?

How can we raise kids in a effing world like this?

[DCBob]

12. That's definitely a concern.

For sure there are many powerful ruthless people who won't like what he is going to do.

[sofa king]

14. Worst-case Test-case.

Perhaps we can learn something as the Philippines devolve. Like, not to elect a Trumpling!