Late Philippine Leader Aquino’s Son to Seek Philippines Presidency

Mr "Noynoy" Aquino, 49, said he wanted to build on the democracy established when his mother was swept to office by the 1986 People Power revolution.

His father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino was assassinated on his return from exile in 1983 by the Marcos dictatorship.

Elections are due in 2010 and current President Gloria Arroyo cannot run.

A senator and member of parliament for 11 years, Mr Aquino said the outpouring of grief for his mother's death persuaded him to run.

Cory Aquino died of cancer on 1 August and hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets in mourning.

Mr Aquino made the announcement at the Club Filipino in the capital, Manila, where his mother had been sworn into office after the dramatic People Power movement banished the military dictatorship led by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.

"I am accepting the responsibility to continue this nation's fight. I am accepting the challenge to lead this fight. I am running for the presidency in the coming election," Mr Aquino told a crowd of cheering supporters.

He will lead the opposition Liberal Party in the May 2010 polls, with President Gloria Arroyo mandated by the constitution to step down after her six-year term.