Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte makes his way to his polling precinct in Davao City to cast his vote here. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday afternoon cast his vote at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School here.
Duterte arrived at 3:05 p.m. and walked a few meters from the school gate to his polling precinct.
The tough-talking mayor was the last presidential candidate to vote after his rivals trooped early to their polling precincts to cast their votes.
READ: ‘Nocturnal’ Duterte to vote last among presidential bets
“He is okay and he is relaxed,” Bong Go, Duterte’s executive assistant, told reporters beofre Duterte arrived.
READ: Duterte ‘very relaxed,’ says aide
Dressed in a checkered red and white polo, Duterte was mobbed by his supporters as he arrived at his polling precinct. He was with his wife, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña and daughter Veronica.
The crowd chanted “Duterte, Duterte” as they tried to get near the mayor, which made it hard for him to enter his precinct.
Asked about his thoughts on winning the presidency, he said, “I am not positive. I am saying I ain’t there until I am there.”
It took Duterte around 10 minutes to cast his vote.
In a separate press conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Duterte said he remains hopeful in winning the presidency.
“So far, I have not received any reports of cheating and violence. Maybe in some areas but not big enough to make a dent in the elections now,” he said.
“If God wants me there, I will accept it. If God doesn’t want me there, I will accept it. I will retire,” he added.
Prior to voting, Duterte took time to rest after he capped off his 90-day campaign on Saturday at the Luneta Park in Manila.
READ: Duterte, Cayetano, supporters ‘occupy Luneta’ to cap off campaign
Pre-election surveys showed Duterte with a wide lead against his rivals. CDG/IDL/rag
READ: Election’s over; we’ve won—Duterte camp
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