MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Presidential leading candidate Rodrigo Duterte has taken an early lead in the Philippine presidential elections, according to unofficial tallies carried by national media shortly after polls closed.
Duterte had 1.31 million votes, nearly double his nearest rival, with about eight percent of the total counted, according to CNN Philippines, which was tallying data released by the election commission.
Duterte gave a cautious assessment when asked on CNN Philippines about the early results.
“I ain’t there until I am there,” he said.
“If it is my destiny to be there then I accept it.”
Senator Grace Poe was in second place with 757,000 votes, with administration candidate Mar Roxas trailing closely in third, CNN Philippines said.
Other major news outlets carried similar results.
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