MANILA » The son of Philippine democracy icon Corazon Aquino had a wide lead today in presidential elections after campaigning on a promise to restore the government's credibility by prosecuting corrupt officials.

Despite glitches with new computerized counting machines and violence that claimed at least nine lives, election officials hailed yesterday's vote as a success in a country where poll fraud allegations have marred previous contests.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III—whose father was assassinated while opposing a dictatorship and whose mother led the “;people power”; revolt that restored freedoms—was leading the nine-candidate presidential race with 40.19 percent of the votes from about 78 percent of the precincts, while his closest rival, ousted President Joseph Estrada, had 25.46 percent.

There is no runoff in the Philippines, and whoever has the most votes is declared winner.

In his first public remarks after yesterday's vote, Aquino thanked Filipinos for the huge support and said he would deliver on a campaign promise to fight corruption and government malaise.

“;I will not only not steal, but I'll have the corrupt arrested,”; Aquino told a news conference in his northern home province of Tarlac.

In a bid to save money, Aquino said he will avoid foreign trips and trim the Cabinet, adding he hopes the days when Filipinos have to resort to street protests to address government ills are over.

Aquino's sudden political rise has bolstered hopes among his supporters for a clean leadership after nine years of a scandal-tainted administration that was rocked by coup attempts and protests.

He campaigned on a strong anti-graft platform, promising to start prosecuting corrupt officials within weeks of his election and restore integrity to Congress and the judiciary.

Aquino's closest political lieutenant, former Education Secretary Florencio Abad, said Aquino rode on the crest of a national yearning for an honest leader after corruption scandals under outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Some of Aquino's opponents carried the taint of scandal. The popularity ratings of Sen. Manuel Villar, a real estate developer-turned-politician who was neck-and-neck with Aquino in early surveys, plunged after rivals accused him of using his position to enrich himself and avoid a Senate ethics probe.

Villar conceded defeat today and congratulated Aquino, saying he wanted to work with him to help deal with the enormous challenges facing the Philippines.

Flamboyant former first lady Imelda Marcos also ran for a House seat, as did boxing star Manny Pacquiao. “;Pacman”; was leading in the count in the southern province of Sarangani, where only about half of 300,000 registered voters cast ballots due to a daylong downpour, election official Michael Abas said.

Marcos and her daughter Imee, who is running for governor of northern Ilocos Norte province, have garnered insurmountable leads and might be proclaimed winners later today, election official Alipio Castillo said.