‘Filipino Donald Trump’ Rodrigo Duterte poised for victory as U.S. watches anxiously

Rodrigo Duterte, the outspoken provincial mayor dubbed the Filipino Donald Trump for his pugnacious, off-the-cuff campaign style, is poised to become the Philippines‘ next president, just as the Pentagon is looking to the island nation as a critical partner to offset Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and stem Islamic State’s growing influence in the region.

While the formal results will be announced Tuesday, there seemed little doubt that the 71-year-old mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines had racked up enough votes in the crowded field of presidential contenders, according to exit polling. His closest rival in the race, Mar Roxas — grandson of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas — trailed badly in the vote counting, and another key rival, Sen. Grace Poe, formally conceded.

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