Aquino wins by a landslide in Philippines poll

A final count by the Philippine Congress shows that Benigno Aquino III has won last month’s presidential elections by a landslide.

Mr Aquino, the son of Philippines democracy campaigners, promised to battle corruption in his campaign against his closest opponent, ousted leader Joseph Estrada.

Congressional leaders who counted the results of the May 10 election said today that Mr Aquino garnered more than 15 million votes – about 5.7 million ahead of Mr Estrada.

Congress will officially proclaim Mr Aquino’s victory tomorrow.

Mr Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor and economics graduate, will officially become the South East Asian nation’s 15th president on June 30. He will replace Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.