Philippines kicks off election season under pandemic cloud

© Reuters/POOL FILE image: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrives to attend the enthronement ceremony of Japan's Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo

by way of Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines opens every week-lengthy window on Friday for submitting of candidacy for hundreds of political posts, from the presidency right down to city councillors, kicking off what is anticipated to be a hotly contested election in might also next 12 months.

The procedure may still put an end to months of hypothesis over who will vie to prevail firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte, 76, who below the constitution can not are searching for reelection and should contest the vice presidency race as an alternative. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-senator-first-declare-2022-run-presidency-2021-09-08

© Reuters/LAI SENG SIN FILE image: Philippine boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao poses for photographers throughout a news convention in Kuala Lumpur

what's continually a festive adventure with massive crowds can be more sober this yr, with restrictions in vicinity to battle one among Asia's deadliest COVID-19 epidemics.

up to now, simply three contenders have declared their intention to run for president, the most noted, senator and newly retired https://reut.rs/3EYCDzw boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao https://reut.rs/3kRUMHu.

Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, https://reut.rs/3FgtdzN a former actor, and Senator Panfilo Lacson, an ex police chief, have additionally validated they will run.

but the spotlight may be on Sara Duterte-Carpio, the president's daughter, despite her ruling out operating for greater office subsequent 12 months https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/duterte-daughter-denies-philippine-succession-activity-expectation-rises-2021-09-09.

Duterte-Carpio, forty three, changed her father as Davao metropolis mayor when he grew to be president, and she continues to be by using a long way essentially the most everyday presidential prospect, in keeping with successive opinion polls https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/help-dutertes-declines-philippines-election-survey-2021-09-29 this year.

Analysts say it is vital her father's successor is a loyalist, to insulate him from potential legal motion at domestic or by way of the foreign criminal courtroom, over the heaps of state killings in his war on medication considering that 2016.

Critics say his pastime in the vice presidency is additionally a self-preservation circulation. Duterte says his motivation is public service, now not vigor.

vp, Leni Robredo https://reut.rs/3l2o2vf, who leads the opposition, is also being entreated by means of supporters to run for the top post.

"within the coming days, please pray with me in order that our choice could be what's optimal for our country," she observed.

greater than 60 million Filipinos will vote in may additionally 2022 for a brand new president, vice president, and greater than 18,000 lawmakers and native govt officials.

Candidates have except Oct. eight to register, however withdrawals and substitutions are allowed except Nov. 15, leaving scope for ultimate-minute adjustments of coronary heart, like the 11th hour entry of Duterte for the 2016 election, which he received by a big margin.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; modifying through Martin Petty)