Manila - The Philippines' most senior churchman yesterday effectively conceded that the former film star, Mr Joseph Estrada, had won the presidential election, but a slow vote count raised fears that cheating could rob the opposition leader of victory.
Cardinal Jaime Sin said exit polls pointing to a victory by a man he has called morally unfit to govern were now being confirmed in an early count. The cardinal's statement appeared to boost Mr Estrada's claim to the presidency in the face of a refusal by the administration of the outgoing President, Gen Fidel Ramos, to acknowledge he had won.
Exit polls suggest Mr Estrada will win by a landslide.