BEIJING, May 11 -- Now for some further details amd background on the front-runner, Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino the third, the leader of the Liberal party in the Philippines.
Born in 1960, Aquino is the only son of the late senator Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and late ex-president Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino.
His father was assassinated at Manila airport in 1983. His mother, who led the People's Power revolt in 1986 and then took office as the country's first female president, died of cancer last year.
An economics graduate of a university in Manila, Aquino the third was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, and then to the Senate in 2007.
He has held the position of Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Liberal party since March 2006.
Riding in on the popularity of his parents, Aquino the third kicked off his presidential campaign shortly after his mother's death. His Liberal Party held a major lead in opinion polls ahead of the election.
Aquino believes that corruption and poverty are the major causes of the lack of public trust in government in the Philippines. He is pledging that if elected, he will fight corruption, as well as working towards eliminating poverty, promoting the economy and employment, and improving education and healthcare standards.
(Source: CCTV.com)
