Politician hacks wife to death

Politician hacks wife to death

MANILA (AFP): A Filipino campaign leader hacked his pregnant wife to death because she refused to vote for the political candidates he was backing, a newspaper reported here.

The Manila Times newspaper said the 26-year-old husband, who was campaigning for congressional and mayoral candidates in the tiny island of San Miguel, became enraged when his 22-year-old wife told him she was voting for rival candidates from President Fidel Ramos's ruling coalition.

After quarreling with his wife on their divergent choices Sunday, the angry husband then pulled out his machete and hacked her to death, the report said. He immediately fled after the killing.

Congressional and local elections in the Philippines are scheduled on May 8.