Who is next after Aquino?

Philippines President Benigno Aquino must step down next year, after reaching the end of the single six-year term permitted by the constitution, and 130 candidates have nominated to replace him, including one who claims to be an extraterrestrial ambassador.

Aquino sees Manuel Roxas, until recently his secretary of interior, as the candidate most likely to sustain his legacy, according to an agency.

Roxas is currently third in opinion polls. Second is current vice-president, Jejomar Binay, who is from a different political party to Aquino and faces corruption charges.

First is Grace Poe, a senator known mostly for being the adopted daughter of a famous actor. She may face disqualification over citizenship and residency issues.

Aquino's two predecessors were both convicted of corruption, and there is concern about who could follow.

"The problem is you don't have any more Aquinos waiting on the sidelines," said Kenneth Akintewe, a fund manager at Aberdeen Asset Management in Singapore, overseeing $4.5 billion in assets.

"There is a big question mark over how sustainable the reform momentum is going to be."

Aquino's mostly steady, scandal-free administration has driven 6.3 percent average growth of the $285 billion economy, the fastest of Southeast Asia's five main economies, and the World Bank expects it to remain the region's pacesetter in 2016-17.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

SHARE THIS