Security forces on alert ahead of Philippine polls
MANILA: More than 60,000 security forces in the Philippines were on alert Sunday to safeguard ballots and polling stations on the eve of the presidential election, after police reported four people killed in an outbreak of violence.
Elections are a traditionally volatile time in a country with lax gun laws and a violent political culture, but the national police said this season has been comparatively peaceful.
In one of the worst incidents, four people were killed Saturday in a gun battle between armed supporters of mayoral rivals in Magsingal town in the northern province of Ilocos Sur, said police spokesman BrigadierGeneral Roderick Alba. Another four were wounded.
Police in the northern province of Nueva Ecija also arrested two dozen people and seized weapons, including five M-16 rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun and 15 handguns, following a shoot-out between bodyguards of two candidates running for mayor of General Tinio. Five people were wounded in the incident, which also left the same number of sports utility vehicles riddled with bullets, Alba said.
More than 18,000 posts, from president to town councillor, are up for grabs in the elections.
The son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos looks set to win the presidential vote by a landslide, returning the clan to the pinnacle of political power.
Personnel from the police, armed forces and coast guard have fanned out across the archipelago to help secure polling stations and ballots, escort election officials and guard checkpoints.
The security deployment involves around 48,000 soldiers and 16,000 police, officials said.
“Based on our planning... we are confident that we’ll have a secure and orderly election,” said armed forces spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala.