Philippines holds village, youth elections after 25 killed (Roundup)

Oct 29, 2007, 9:31 GMT

Manila - Millions of Filipinos took part in village and youth council elections in the Philippines Monday amid tight security after sporadic violence had killed 25 people since last month.

Police said the death toll in the Philippines' latest elections were low compared to the 75 deaths in 2002, the last time village polls were held, and 142 in congressional elections in May this year.

'Overall, we had a generally peaceful and orderly elections,' Director General Avelino Razon, national police chief, said at the close of polling precincts after eight hours of voting.

The Commission on Elections said voter turnout was expected to be high at about 70 per cent of the 51.3 million Filipinos who registered to take part in the voting. More than 670,000 posts were up for grabs in the elections.

The military and the police vowed to maintain a high level of alert during the vote counting and canvassing. Winners were expected to be proclaimed within 48 hours.

The village and youth council elections are supposed to be held every three years, but budget constraints and political instability prompted legislators in 2005 to postpone the elections for two years.

Although low-keyed and non-partisan, the elections are considered crucial as newly elected officials are expected to make up the grassroots backbone of national political parties for the 2010 presidential elections.

Village and youth representatives often help national politicians win voters and maintain influence in their areas.

While police officials described the elections as 'uneventful,' separate cases of violence were reported across the country hours before polling centres opened Monday morning.

The Elections Commission also received reports of usual complaints of vote buying, voter disenfranchisement, confusion in polling precincts and a lack of election materials.

The incidents included shootings of at several village chieftains seeking re-election throughout the country, one of whom died and another was critically wounded. Mortar attacks were also reported on polling precincts in the southern province of Lanao del Sur.

Police have also arrested 325 people for violating gun restrictions.

Elections have traditionally been marred by violence in the Philippines despite additional gun restrictions imposed during the campaign and polling periods. Allegations of cheating and other irregularities are also rampant.