The Philippines has woken up to a vastly different political landscape this morning...
after the all but certain victory of a brash, outspoken mayor in the presidential election
also referred to as the "Trump of the East".
With almost all the votes counted,... hardliner Rodrigo Duterte has an unassailable lead.
Kim Mok-yeon reports.
With more than 90 percent of the vote counted Tuesday morning, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte had secured more than 15 million votes, claiming victory in this year's presidential
election race.
The nation's election watchdog said Duterte took about 39 percent of the total votes,
winning over his closest rivals Manuel Roxas, a former interior secretary with 23 percent
and Senator Grace Poe at third with 22 percent.
In the Philippines, the winner is decided on a simple majority of votes cast.
"I honor the result of our elections.
I congratulate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and pledge my support."
Duterte, who served as the mayor of Davao for more than 22 years has been nicknamed
"The Punisher".
He has been compared to U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump... because of his outsider
status and no-nonsense comments.
He vowed to kill drug pushers,... shocking his challengers.
"If I become the president, I will order the military and the police to hunt down the drug
lords, the big ones and kill them."
Duterte said his law and order policy had been the key to his success.
His election campaign has also focused on reforming the economy, infrastructure, and
on solving the territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
However, Duterte's hardline approaches and controversial statements during his campaign
are raising public concern that it could lead to human rights abuses.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.