Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has a big lead over Leni Robredo with just days to go before the Philippine elections.
According to the latest survey by the independent pollster, Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was favored by over 50% of respondents.
Robredo was a distant second after defeating Marcos in the vice presidential bid. She got 23% in the opinion polls.
There are many candidates, but only two have a chance of winning: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the Philippines' former dictator, and Leni Robredo, the current Vice President.
The outgoing President has not endorsed any of the presidential candidates, but his political party is supporting Marcos.
Even though his approval ratings are high, he can only serve for one term under the law.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term in the top office ends in 2022.There are over sixty million voters who have registered for the election. In addition to voting for senators and provincial, city and municipal officials, Filipinos will also choose a president and vice president who will serve for six years.
Voting closes at 7 pm on Monday, with counting to begin after that. Live vote count could be used to release unofficial results as soon as a few hours. The winner of the presidential elections in 2016 was declared three weeks after the polls.
Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso received the next highest support of 7% in the survey, and is a former actor better known by his stage name.
The Council on Foreign Relations said in an April 21 note that China remains the biggest issue.
There are differing views on China by the top two candidates in this election.
Beijing’s enormous unpopularity in the Philippines could limit Marcos Jr.’s ability to work closely with China...
Marcos is seen as the most China-friendly candidate. Marcos has been involved in pro-China policies since his election in 2016
Sentiment within the government appears to have deviated and anti-China rhetoric may be growing louder. Analysts say this could push the next president away from the China-pivot.
Marcos Jr. has historically enjoyed a warm relationship with Beijing and could want to woo them again, as well as attempt to launch more Beijing-backed infrastructure projects. Beijing's unpopularity in the Philippines could limit Marcos Jr.'s ability to work with China.
Robredo has promised a tough approach to Beijing and will not discuss the South China Sea with Beijing until it recognizes that a 2016 tribunal at the Hague ruled in favor of Manila.
The relationship between China and the Philippines is complicated by the territorial dispute over the South China Sea. The international tribunal in the Netherlands dismissed China's claims to much of the South China Sea and ruled that the Philippines alone had the right to claim some of it. China rejected the ruling.
The Philippines is central to the U.S. position in the South China.
Both candidates will likely have closer ties with Washington.
The presidential election is being dominated by political dynasties, with Marcos and his running mate Sara, pointed out Coronel.
The incumbent president's daughter is the mayor of the southern city of Davao.
The rise of the strongmen's children shows the failure of the country's transition to democracy after Marcos's fall.
The elder Marcos ruled for two decades from 1965, half of it under martial law. Tens of thousands were tortured or killed during that time.
The professor said that political dynasties dominate local government posts and make up as much as two-thirds of the Philippine Congress.
They hope to capture the country's two highest offices. Although the elder Marcos is dead, the struggle between democracy and autocracy in the Philippines is far from over and the upcoming election could determine the country's path for decades to come.
This report was contributed to by Yen Nee Lee.
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