Philippine poll front runner will broaden campaign

Significance

On February 10, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) dismissed a handful of petitions challenging Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos’s right to participate in the presidential race. In a survey conducted last month by the pollster Pulse Asia Research, 60% of respondents said Marcos was their favoured candidate to become president.

Impacts

• Philippine-Chinese ties, along with job creation and the healthcare system, will be among the main campaign issues.
• Candidates will spend a sizeable amount of their campaign funds on broadcast and social media advertisements.
• Incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte will probably endorse Marcos as a successor, given that daughter Sara is his running mate.