MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Congress has proclaimed crime-busting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president-elect and Rep. Leni Robredo as vice-president-elect of a country that has been posting high growth rates but remains saddled with poverty, corruption and insurgencies.
Robredo attended Monday’s ceremony at the House of Representatives. Duterte did not; he has stayed in his southern city of Davao since the May 9 elections.
In the Philippines, presidents and vice-presidents are elected separately.
Duterte won on an anti-crime platform by more than 6 million votes over his closest rival. The vice-presidential race was much tighter. Robredo finished only about 260,000 votes ahead of second-place candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The son of late former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. has raised suspicions of election fraud and has sought an investigation.