Unofficial election results suggest tough talking mayor Rodrigo Duterte is set to become the Philippines' next president.
With 90 per cent of ballots counted by an election commission-accredited body, Mr Duterte is placed well ahead of the other candidates -- forcing another popular senator, Grace Poe, to concede defeat.
71-year-old Rodrigo Duterte is poised to become the Philippines' next president.
An unofficial tally of more than 90 per cent of ballots showed the mayor of the southern city of Davao with 39 per cent of the election vote.
It put Mr Duterte millions of votes ahead of the second-placed Grace Poe.
So, within hours of the voting booths closing, Ms Poe's dream of a victory had ended.
Conceding defeat, she said she was proud for fighting a "clean and fair" campaign.
"This is not defeat but to give way and respect to our democratic system. I am giving way to Rodrigo Duterte, who is leading the race and has been chosen by many of our people."
A late entrant to the presidential race, Mr Duterte quickly became a public favourite.
In an obscenity-filled campaign, Mr Duterte boasted about affairs -- and even made comments about the rape of a murdered Australian missionary.
But Filipino voters liked his tough talk, particularly when it came to crime and corruption.
Nicknamed 'the punisher', Mr Duterte says he will listen to the will of the people.
"I remain hopeful that as long as there is no cheating in the counting, I would be happy to accept any verdict that the Filippino people give us."
Rodrigo Duterte has been the target of criticism from outgoing President Benigno Aquino, whose government delivered broad economic growth, but is accused of failing to support the poor.
Mr Aquino has likened his likely successor to World War Two Nazi leader Hitler, and warned the country is succumbing to its dictatorship past.
Manila-based political analyst Richard Heydarian says Mr Duterte must change his style of presentation after the election.
"Duterte has to make this rapid transition from the campaign trail candiate into President Duterte. He needs soul searching in the coming days and I hope that some of his level-headed advisors will knock some sense into him in terms of his rhetoric. He can't be a loose cannon like he has been on the campaign trail."
The ruling party's candidate, Mar Roxas is now trailing behind Mr Duterte in second place with 23 per cent of the votes.
With the role of president almost decided, attention now turns to who will become Vice President.
Among the candidates is Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Fighting him for the role is social activist Leni Robredo, touted as a counter-balance to Mr Duterte's apparent dictatorial style of leadership.
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