Filipinos flocked to polling stations Monday to elect their 16th president in one of the most closely watched and emotionally charged elections in recent memory. The presidential race has a clear front-runner: Rodrigo Duterte, 71, a tough-talking city mayor from the country’s south. More than 100,000 police officers have been dispatched nationwide to guard against political violence and unrest, according to local media. Duterte is leading polls with 33% of the vote, more than 10% ahead of his nearest rivals. Manila has been in the grips of election fever for months; its streets clogged by rallies and plastered with colorful campaign posters.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 09, 2016 02:24 UTC