Dictator’s son far ahead in Philippine presidential vote

Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, the son of the late dictator, votes at a polling centre in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, northern Philippines, on Monday May 9 2022 (AP)

The son and namesake of ousted Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos took a commanding lead in an unofficial vote count in the presidential election in the deeply divided Asian democracy.

With more than 70% of the votes tabulated, Mr Marcos Jnr had more than 23.5 million, far ahead of his closest challenger, current vice president Leni Robredo, a champion of human rights, who had 11.1 million.