Violence, technical glitches, mar Philippine elections

Six people died in the Philippines Monday as a result of election-related violence. Technical glitches also cast doubt on the outcome of the nation’s first computerized vote count. More than 40 million Filipinos were expected to turn up at polling stations across the archipelago. 

Reuters

Over 17,000 positions are at stake, from parliamentary to municipal council seats.

The winner of the presidency will succeed Gloria Arroyo, whose administration has been marred by allegations of corruption. Noynoy Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor, is favoured to win.

Violence is a common feature of Philippine elections, where local candidates are known for killing rivals and intimidating voters.

At least two civilians were killed in the flashpoint southern province of Maguindanao. The military says they were victims of clashes between the private armies of rival candidates for a vice mayoral post. Another four people were killed in other parts of the restive southern Philippines.

The country is using computerised ballot-counting for the first time, in theory to tally votes more accurately and quickly. But glitches have already cast doubt over the accuracy of the results.

In the week before the election, some memory cards were found with incorrect configurations. Then on Monday, some machines broke down, forcing the election commission to extend the voting period by one hour.

Noynoy Aquino could himself not immediately vote because of a machine malfunction at his polling station in his northern home province of Tarlac.

Nevertheless, two major independent surveys show Aquino with between 39 and 42 per cent popular support, a two-to-one lead over his challengers.

Ones to watch in the Philippines poll

Some of the high-profile candidates in Monday's elections

Benigno Aquino, 50, the balding, bachelor son of former President Corazon Aquino and her assassinated husband Benigno, known as Noynoy. He has campaigned on a clean government ticket and is expected to win the presidency by a landslide.

Manuel Villar, 60, a self-made property developer millionaire, whose ratings have plunged amid allegations that he used his parliamentary seat for personal gain.

Joseph Estrada, 73, a former film star, known as Erap, who was ousted as president by a military-backed coup in 2001 but retained support among some of the urban poor and is second presidential pick in the polls.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 63, the outgoing president, whose presidency started amid hopes of reform and ended amid charges of graft, is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives, sparking charges that she hopes to stay in the game by becoming prime minister.

Juan Ponce Enrile, 86, wants to return as president of the Senate after backing and then falling out with former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino.

Imelda Marcos, 80, the widow of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, whose collection of thousands of shoes was discovered when crowds stormed the presidential palace, is standing for a seat in the Lower House from the area in which her husband was born.

Manny Pacquaio, 31, the seven-time world boxing champion, who has fascinated the international media, is standing for a seat in the Lower House.

Danilo Lim, 54, the decorated army general who led campaigns against the communist New People’s Army and Islamic guerrillas in the south is standing for a Senate seat, only slightly hampered by being in jail for leading two failed coups.