Presidential election campaign in Philippines

MANILA: Less than 10 days before the national and local elections in the Philippines, presidential aspirants are campaigning the archipelago, wooing voters with plenty of promises despite the Covid-19 threat.

As the election campaign enters its final days, sloganeering and mudslinging intensify in a desperate effort to destroy their rivals, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

The battle has now shifted to drone photography to show which political rally has an enormous number of attendees. Some candidates' children and supporters have resorted to a house-to-house campaign to personally meet the voters.

Presidential aspirants bring singers and actors to entertain the crowd on the campaign trail.

The candidates rarely or superficially discuss how they plan to deal with ballooning debts or how to revitalise the pandemic-hit economy and stamp out its decades-old corruption, widespread poverty, and rising food prices.

Over 65.7 million Filipinos are expected to vote on May 9 to elect a new President, Vice President, 12 of the 24 members of the Senate, and members of the House of Representatives.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) data showed that over 18,000 congressional and local positions are up for grabs.

According to the latest opinion surveys, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64, son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, is favoured to win with a majority of the vote in the election over his main rival, incumbent Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, 57. (IANS)

Also Read:  India inks deal with the Philippines to supply Brahmos missiles

Also Watch: