Philippine presidential election: Mr. Marcos Jr won a resounding victory

According to the National, with more than 90% of the votes counted, Mr Ferdinand Marcos Jr won nearly 30 million votes, more than double that of his closest opponent, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo.

Speaking late at night from his campaign headquarters in Manila, the weary but smiling Marcos Jr thanked the volunteers for his many months of “sacrifice and work”. However, Mr Marcos Jr has not yet declared victory, saying that “the counting of votes is not yet complete”.

“Let’s wait until it’s clear, until the number reaches 100% then we can celebrate,” said Marcos Jr.

“If we are lucky, I hope that your help will not wane, your confidence will not wane because we have a lot of work to do in the time ahead” – Mr. Marcos Jr. let me know.

Outside the headquarters, excited supporters lit flares, waved national flags and crowded on parked cars to chant victory.

Cleve Arguelles, a lecturer in political science at De La Salle University in Manila, made it clear that “this will be a historic election” for the Philippines.

Mr Marcos Jr’s opponent Leni Lobredo, a lawyer and incumbent vice president, admitted “clear disappointment” about the outcome. The 57-year-old candidate has pledged to clean up the political system of Philippines. In the final weeks before the election, her campaign morphed into a pro-democracy movement that drew nearly 1 million people to a rally in Manila.

Corazon Bagay, Ms. Robredo’s supporter, said: “She doesn’t have any corruption allegations. She is an honest person.”

In a televised address in the early hours of May 10, Ms. Robredo told supporters that “nothing goes to waste. We have not failed”. She indicated that the movement would resume after the final results are announced, a process that is expected to take weeks. “We’re just getting started,” she said.

In the vice presidential election, Ms. Sara Duterte, Daughter of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, also leads with 25.8 million. The President and Vice President are elected separately in the Philippines. Sara Duterte is a running mate with Marcos Jr. This couple’s partnership is one of the reasons why both won because it combined the support of political strongholds in the north and south.