Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Lipa, Batangas province, April 20, 2022. (Photo: ELOISA LOPEZ / REUTERS)

The election pits Vice President Leni Robredo against former senator and congressman Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who farther was Philippine President from 1965 to 1986.

Opinion polls put Marcos, popularly known as "Bongbong", leading his rival by over 30 percentage points, having topped every poll this year. That means Robredo will need a late surge or low turnout if she is to win the presidency. 

Marcos, 64, has presented no real policy platform but his presidency is expected to provide continuity from outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose approach proved popular. 

Robredo, 57, a former human rights lawyer and staunch liberal, has pledged to improve education and welfare, fight poverty and improve market competition if elected.