By Frances Mao
BBC News
Image supply, Reuters
Image caption, Filipinos queue on the avenue to vote, outside a polling precinct in Metro Manila
Balloting has begun within the Philippines, with millions queuing across the islands to establish their subsequent president.
The person tipped to rob the presidency is Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, the son of the nation’s former dictator.
Polls point out he would maybe maybe also gaze a landslide victory, which implies the Marcos clan that became once toppled 36 years within the past would maybe maybe also reclaim energy.
His closest rival is Leni Rebredo who beat Mr Marcos within the 2016 vice-presidential elections.
But polls this campaign be pleased repeatedly confirmed the Marcos inheritor forward with a commanding 30-percentage point lead.
A excessive turnout is anticipated of the nation’s eligible 67 million voters- with many on Monday lining up forward of morning time to solid their votes as polling stations at colleges and community centres opened at 06: 00 (22: 00 GMT Sunday).
But there be pleased already been stories of voting components at the polls, with some voters telling BBC reporters at the Epifanio Delos Santos classic college within the capital Manila that they were having wretchedness placing their ballots into the vote counting machines.
A file by native facts operate the Inquirer stated almost 2,000 vote counting machines – which voters feed their ballots directly into – had malfunctioned.
Image caption, Voters queue up at the Epifanio Delos Santos Traditional Faculty in Malate
Nonetheless, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia stated this had been “resolved”, the file added.
Within the unstable Mindanao online page, a grenade attack outside a polling deliver unhurried on Sunday left nine other folks injured, stated police, in line with an AFP file.
Whoever wins will bewitch over from Rodrigo Duterte, the strongman chief who’s attain to the tip of his six 12 months time duration quite than job.
Mr Duterte’s authorities has been criticised for its brutality in cracking down on capsules and crime, although the administration has continuously rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
Critics notify democratic establishments be pleased attain below attack for the duration of Mr Duterte’s presidency, pointing to the shutdown of Philippines’ broadcaster ABS-CBN, a channel which has within the previous angered Mr Duterte – amongst others.
Who’re the candidates?
Bongbong Marcos, 64, is the son of the unhurried dictator Ferdinand Marcos whose regime lasted 21 years.
On Monday, he and his family- at the side of his mom Imelda – solid their votes at a college polling booth in Batac within the nation’s north – his family’s heartland.
Image supply, Reuters
Image caption, Bongbong Marcos solid his vote early on Monday
His father’s rule saw him fall the nation into martial law and bewitch support an eye on of the nation’s courts, businesses and media. The navy and police arrested and tortured thousands of dissidents and political opponents were murdered.
He, his accomplice Imelda Marcos – who’s wrong for her fleshy designer material cabinet – along with their cronies, plundered an estimated $10bn from public funds. He became once compelled out of energy in 1986 by the Contributors’s Energy Revolution and died rapidly afterwards.
After his family returned from exile within the 1990s, Bongbong carved out political footholds, changing actual into a province governor, congressman and senator – with the support of his family’s wealth and gathered-highly effective connections.
His operating accomplice is Sara Duterte, daughter of the incumbent president. Both be pleased detailed protection plans, but these are infrequently discussed intimately for the duration of the pair’s election rallies.
In 2016, Bongbong ran for vice-president, but lost to Leni Robredo – his main challenger in this contest.
Ms Robredo is a human rights legal skilled and liberal legislator who has repeatedly led campaigns against Duterte’s capsules violence and gender inequality.
She has vowed to tackle corruption, with her campaign slogan being: “Correct authorities, a more in-depth life for all”.
Image supply, Getty Photos
Image caption, Ms Robredo is a human rights legal skilled
While at the support of within the polls, her rallies be pleased drawn important turnouts now not too long within the past – in particular amongst younger, passionate “Red Shirt” supporters who be pleased launched a grassroots, door-knocking effort to rob her votes.
The hundreds of candidates inch Marcos and Robredo. They consist of boxing champion and national hero Manny Pacquiao who has promised to tackle corruption and poverty, and Manila’s city mayor Isko Moreno who has promised infrastructure exercise and a harsher line on China.
Are there any electoral concerns?
Critics notify the election has been plagued by rampant misinformation on social media.
Bongbong has been accused of the usage of social media to sow disinformation and whitewash the history of the Marcos family – one thing they grunt.
The out of the ordinary theme is that Marcos’s tyrannical rule became once essentially a “golden duration” for the nation – despite the actual fact that the economic system became once on the brink, heavily in debt to distant places banks.
Bongbong has furthermore instantaneous certain of debates or boards where he would maybe maybe well must face self enough questioning.
For Ms Robredo, tracker groups be pleased reported an escalation in online campaigns harassing and vilifying her with misogynistic messages.
The Asian Community for Free Elections – a show screen – has came across previous Philippines votes to be frequently free and handsome.
When would maybe maybe well we request outcomes?
Polls will dwell begin till 19: 00 (1100 GMT) within the community, even supposing voting officials be pleased stated they’d maybe also lengthen the hours attributable to Covid restrictions and if voters are gathered waiting in line. Many are carrying masks to the polls.
Filipinos are now not simplest voting on the president but furthermore the vice-president, senators, lower dwelling legislators and thousands of lower-ranking officials across the full archipelago’s 7,600 islands.
A turn-out of about 80% – as viewed in previous elections – is anticipated.
Counting will initiate the 2d polls terminate and it’ll also turn into certain in a few hours which candidates are pulling forward. Nonetheless the plot would maybe maybe also furthermore bewitch days forward of a winner is launched, as became once the case in 2016.