Aquino set to win Philippines presidency

Benigno Aquino, the son of former president Corazon Aquino, appears poised to win the presidency of the Philippines following Monday’s election. Manny Villar, one of Aquino's main rivals, conceded defeat as the frontrunner looked set to win 40 per cent of the vote.

Reuters

Aquino is not the only relative of a former leader on track for public office. Eighty-year-old former first lady Imelda Marcos will get a seat in the House of Representatives.  Her 52-year-old son Ferdinand Jr will go to the 24-seat Senate. Eldest daughter Imee, 56, will become governor of the family's home province of Ilocos Norte.

With 80 per cent of the vote counted, all three are ahead in the polls, but awaiting final results from the Commission on Elections.

The victory of the three Marcoses marks a comeback for the family that fled to Hawaii in 1986 after a popular revolt that installed Corazon Aquino.

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao also looks set to be elected in the southern province of Sarangani.

Meanwhile, communist rebels in the southern Philippines killed six people and wounded 12 others on Tuesday when they ambushed an election convoy, the military said.

Two soldiers, two government militiamen, an election official and the poll watcher of a local candidate were killed in the attack in the restive Mindanao region.