The 2016 Philippine presidential election was held on May 9, 2016, and featured a field of five major candidates. The candidates included incumbent President Benigno Aquino III, who was ineligible to run for a second term due to term limits; Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance; Senator Grace Poe, an independent candidate; Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of the PDP-Laban party; and Mar Roxas, Aquino's chosen successor and the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party.
Binay, Poe, and Roxas were all considered to be mainstream candidates with strong political pedigrees, while Duterte was seen as a controversial outsider with a tough-on-crime platform. Aquino, who had served as president since 2010, was widely popular and had achieved a number of notable successes during his time in office, including economic growth and the implementation of key reforms. However, he was also criticized for his handling of several high-profile issues, including the Mamasapano massacre and the Disbursement Acceleration Program controversy.
Poe, who was the first foundling to be elected to the Senate in the Philippines, was seen as a political outsider with a strong appeal to independent voters. She ran on a platform that focused on improving the quality of life for ordinary Filipinos, including by increasing access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. However, she faced legal challenges over her eligibility to run for president, as some questioned whether she met the constitutional requirement that presidential candidates be natural-born citizens.
Roxas, a former senator and cabinet member, was seen as the candidate most closely aligned with the policies of Aquino and the Liberal Party. He ran on a platform that emphasized the importance of continuity and stability, and promised to build on the progress made under Aquino's leadership. However, he faced criticism for his perceived lack of charisma and his perceived close ties to the elite.
Duterte, meanwhile, was perhaps the most controversial candidate in the race. A former prosecutor and mayor of Davao City, he had gained a reputation for his tough stance on crime and his willingness to take strong action against criminal elements. He ran on a platform that focused on cracking down on corruption, drug trafficking, and crime, and promised to restore order and discipline to the country. However, his campaign was also marked by allegations of human rights abuses and his controversial statements about women and minority groups.
In the end, Duterte emerged as the winner of the 2016 presidential election, winning nearly 39% of the vote and defeating his nearest rival, Roxas, by a wide margin. His victory marked a significant shift in Philippine politics, as he was the first president from Mindanao and the first to come from outside the traditional political establishment. However, his presidency has also been marked by controversy, including allegations of human rights abuses and a tumultuous relationship with the media.
