Duterte leads poll for Time Magazine world’s 100 most influential people list

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It won’t be the first time the president has featured in the magazine

President Duterte is the early frontrunner of a global online poll for Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

As of Sunday (March 26) afternoon, the president had four percent of total votes, ahead of Pope Francis with three percent, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Beyonce and Angela Merkel, all on two percent.

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Also in the top ten are Bill Gates, Senator Bernie Sanders and gymnast Simone Biles

Other world leaders attracting strong voting are Vladimir Putin, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Voting closes on April 16, and the list of the 100 most influential people will be announced April 20.

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It wouldn’t be the first time for the president to feature on such a high-profile list, in December Forbes magazine included him in their list of the Most Powerful People in the world.

Duterte is continuing to attract international attention with his war on drugs and frequent colourful outbursts.

He has also rocked the geopolitical boat by announcing a “separation” from the US and a overtures to China and Russia.

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So far, other prominent people attracting votes include Serena Williams, Mark Zuckerberg, J K Rowling, Emma Watson, Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and Lady Gaga.

Recently, the president was featured in a New York Times article entitled “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman,” which the Malacañang has denounced as sounding “like a well-paid hack job.” (Read more here)

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