Benigno Aquino III is set to win the Philippine presidential election, which took place on Monday 10th May 2010. He will face significant challenges including; corruption, powerful families such as the Markos, a new Chief Justice and private armies.
Outgoing President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, controversially gained Supreme Court approval to appoint a successor for Chief Justice Renato Puno during an ongoing election. The CJ retires on 17th May 2010 and will be replaced by Associate Justice Renato Corona.
The appointment not only forces Benigno Aquino III to make his presidential oath before a judge appointed by the former President, but it also deprives the new administration of making a key appointment to the Philippine Supreme Court.
Benigno Aquino III, known as “Noynoy”, is the son of President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. He studied for an economics degree under the outgoing President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His father was murdered in the eighties. Noynoy himself was injured when Gregorio Honasan’s men attempted to stage a coup against his mother, who was President at the time.
Noynoy has campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption, enforcing Philippines law and creating opportunities which allow Philippines to stay at home.
