Philippines' Duterte ahead in poll

Unofficial figures show Rodrigo Duterte with more than 9 million votes at the halfway stage of counting.

Filipinos looks for their names on the voters list inside a public school turned into a polling precinct in in Makati city, south of Manila, Philippines Source: AAP

The Philippines' tough-talking city mayor Rodrigo Duterte had a commanding lead with 40 per cent of votes in Monday's presidential election, according to an unofficial tally of ballots counted from half the electorate.

Figures from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, which is accredited by the election commission, showed Duterte with more than 9 million votes at the halfway stage of counting, or 39 per cent of the total.

His nearest rival Grace Poe had 22.2 per cent of the vote.

There are 54 million registered Filipino voters.