(VOVworld) – On Monday more than 50 million voters in the Philippines will cast their ballots to elect a new president.

Voters will elect a President, a vice president, members of parliament, and approximately 18,000 local officials.

The leading presidential candidate is Davao Mayor Rodrigo Digong Duterte, who has been tough on crime. His campaign has focused on law and order. He has pledged to end crime in the Philippines in 6 months and has proposed dissolving parliament, establishing a revolutionary government, and rewriting the constitution. Outgoing President Benigno Aquino has tried to ally with other candidates to defeat Mr. Duterte. Former Interior Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas, backed by President Aquino, is running against Duterte. Presidential candidate Jejomar Binay’s campaign prioritizes economic development, job generation, and balancing relations between China and the US. There are two female candidates: Senator Grace Poe and Senator Miriam Desensor-Santiago.

Under the leadership of President Aquino, the Philippines has gained a number of important achievements in the last 6 years. The economy has grown, the separatist movement has been addressed, relations with the US, Japan, and neighboring countries have improved, and the struggle with China over territorial sovereignty has been intensified.

With China escalating tensions in the region, voters will pay close attention to the new president’s policies to resolve current East Sea issues. Presidential candidates will have to choose between: continuing a tough policy on maritime disputes and accepting considerable economic losses or promoting trade ties with China, the world’s second largest economy. Analysts say the new president will have to balance protecting national sovereignty and stimulating economic growth.