‘Duterte Harry’ candidate plans war on drugs as Filipinos elect new president

Millions of Filipinos lined up in blazing heat to elect a new president in a race whose front-runner is a brash mayor known for his sex jokes, pledges to kill criminals and a promise to end corruption within six months. 

Weary of poverty, crime, corruption, and insurgencies in the hinterlands, voters are looking for a radical change at the top, and hope the man to lead it is Rodrigo Duterte, the 71-year-old mayor of the southern city of Davao who has held a lead over rivals in all opinion polls.

An ex-prosecutor, Mr Duterte peppered his campaign speeches with boasts about his Viagra-fueled sexual prowess and jokes about rape.