Photos: Voters turn out in large numbers for Philippines presidential polls

Volunteers at election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting's (PPCRV) center for conducting an independent vote count for the presidential election in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday, May 9, 2022. Polling centers in the Philippines have begun to close and vote counting is underway for a presidential race.

People wait in line to vote at a school used as a polling centre in Tondo district in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday, May 9, 2022. Millions of Filipinos thronged polling stations to elect a new president.

Ten candidates are vying to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte in elections seen by many as a make-or-break moment for the Philippines’ fragile democracy. Above, police and navy personnel try to control a crowd outside a polling centre as they try to enter to cast their votes in the Tondo district in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday, May 9, 2022.

Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr (C) walks past the media after casting his vote at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte on May 9, 2022.

Philippine Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo greet her supporters after casting her vote at a precinct in Magarao, Camarines Sur, Philippines.

People vote at a multipurpose hall and worship area used as a polling centre in Quezon City, Philippines, on Monday, May 9, 2022. With Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, son and incumbent vice president Leni Robredo, about 67 million registered Filipino voters will pick a new president on Monday.

Before dawn, mask-clad voters formed long queues to cast their ballots in 70,000 polling stations across the archipelago.

In Dubai “The monthlong Philippine overseas voting ended on a high-note on Monday. We’ve also registered a high turnout of voters in the past 30 days,” Philippine consul general Renato Dueñas Jr. told Gulf News.

He added: “We thank our kababayans (countrymen) who have worked with us and came here to vote. We are very happy with the hight turnout and huge interest of Filipinos in this electoral process.” Above, Julius Veraque and April Veraque with their daughter.

The Philippine consul-general said the electronic counting of votes — to be witnessed by poll watchers and election volunteers — will take place immediately inside the PCG. “(Election) results in Dubai will be known in a matter of few hours,” noted Dueñas, adding: “results will be posted here inside the PCG so everyone will know, including the media.

A woman shows ink on her finger after voting at a school used as a polling center for the elections in Quezon City, Philippines.

Imelda Marcos (R), the mother of Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr, votes during the presidential election at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

A woman helps her husband to cast his vote during the presidential election at a polling station in Manila.

Voters line up at a polling station for the presidential election in Quezon City, the Philippines.

Elderly people sit before voting at a polling station during the presidential election at an elementary school in Manila.

A woman helps her husband as they vote at a polling center Monday, May 9, 2022 in Quezon City, Philippines.

People vote during the opening of elections on Monday May 9, 2022 in Quezon city, Philippines.

Filipinos cast their ballots at a polling precinct during the national elections in Manila, Philippines.

A policeman tries to control a crowd outside a polling centre as they try to enter to cast their votes in the Tondo district in Manila.

Police and navy personnel try to control a crowd outside a polling centre as they try to enter to cast their votes in the Tondo district in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday, May 9, 2022.