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| Southeast Asia |
| Aquino wins election |
| 2010-06-09 |
| [Straits Times] BENIGNO Aquino was declared the winner of the Philippine presidential election on Tuesday, nearly a month after voters went to the polls embracing his pledge to fight corruption and ease deep poverty. Following a drawn-out vote tallying process, parliament finally released the complete count showing the 50-year-old son of democracy heroes had won the May 10 election in a landslide. Mr Aquino secured just over 15.2 million votes, or nearly 42 per cent of the total number cast for the most emphatic victory in modern Philippine political history, according to the results released by legislators. Former president Joseph Estrada finished well back in second place, although he still won nearly 9.5 million votes to achieve some personal redemption after being ousted half way through his term in office in 2001 for being corrupt. Mr Aquino will on June 30 take over from outgoing President Gloria Arroyo, who will step down as one of the nation's most unpopular leaders after nearly a decade in power. Mr Aquino achieved his victory on a promise to tackle the corruption and poverty that has plagued the Southeast Asian nation for decades, and he said thrived under Mrs Arroyo's rule. 'I want to lead by example. We talk about corruption. I did make a public vow, I will never steal,' Mr Aquino told AFP in an interview a day after the elections. Just as importantly, Mr Aquino cleverly tapped into the enormous public support for his parents, who remain revered for their efforts in ending the 20-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Mr Aquino, an economics graduate and bachelor, had served for the past 12 years as a low-key member of parliament. |
| Posted by:Fred |