Aquino has deftly capitalised on the legacy of his democracy hero parents by promising to fight corruption, following nine years of rule under President Gloria Arroyo that have been marred by allegations of massive graft. -- PHOTO: AP
MANILA - THE Philippines' presidential election campaign enters its final phase this week with surveys showing Benigno Aquino headed for an historic win, but tensions remain high with fears of cheating and violence.
Aquino has deftly capitalised on the legacy of his democracy hero parents by promising to fight corruption, following nine years of rule under President Gloria Arroyo that have been marred by allegations of massive graft.
'People want somebody they can trust and to clean up the mess Mrs Arroyo will leave behind,' said Ramon Casiple, a political analyst and executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform. 'Noynoy Aquino is headed for a landslide win, based on all the major surveys.'
Nevertheless, with just over a week to go before the May 10 elections, one of Asia's most vibrant democracies remains capable of conjuring up all manner of surprises. Ex-movie star Joseph Estrada insists he can pull off what would be one of the country's greatest political comebacks, after he was deposed as president in 2001 amid charges of massive corruption for which he was later convicted.
While Aquino has 39 per cent support, according to a Pulse Asia opinion poll released last week, Estrada's numbers have climbed to 20 per cent to place him in a tie for second place alongside business titan Manny Villar.
'They (his rivals) will get the surprise of their lives,' Estrada, 73, said after the Pulse Asia survey was released. Villar, meanwhile, has pointed to his formidable political machinery across the nation as a major reason why he should still not be discounted.
One of the ominous backdrops to the elections is a fear that an automated polling system being used for the first time could fall victim to cheating or technical failures. About 50 million people are eligible to cast their ballots in more than 80,000 polling stations across this vast archipelago, and critics of the automated system have warned it could be beset by a myriad of problems. -- AFP
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