Violence Mars Mid-Term Vote in Philippines

Though the national police chief declared Monday's elections as "relatively peaceful", in actual fact the day was not really calm. At least 10 people were killed in separate incidents, bringing the death toll to more than 120 since campaigning began in January. Several people were also injured in scuffles between rival politicians, or supporters, as well as in bomb and grenade attacks across the country.

But despite the violence, and amid tight security, millions of people took part in the polls to elect half of the country's 24 senators, 275 members of the House of Representatives and thousands of local officials, such as governors, provincial and municipal assemblies, and mayors.

A priest-turned-politician, Father Eddie Panlilio, was one of the candidates running for governor in the province of Pampanga. He said people were sick of the corruption and of the fact people abused their public positions for personal profit. "I'm just somebody who openly expresses this opinion and the people's hope to lead a decent, honest life".

No concrete changes

However, few believe the vote will have a tangible effect on the reign of President Gloria Arroyo, who is quite unpopular. She has already fought off two impeachment bids since being accused of cheating in the presidential polls three years ago.

Her opponents hope to gain enough parliamentary seats to re-launch a bid to impeach her. But experts fear they are too weak to bring about any change. Manuel Quezon, a political expert in Manila, said the opposition needed to gain ground in order to prove it was still a force to be reckoned with. "Moreover, it needs a platform for the presidential elections in 2010."

The counting of votes in the Philippines is done manually. Therefore, the results are not expected to be announced any time soon.

But President Arroyo has urged all sides to accept the results when they do come out, and to forget hostilities and unite for the sake of the country’s development.