RP vote count drags on, no clear winners

RP vote count drags on, no clear winners

MANILA (Agencies): Vote counting in the Philippines dragged into a third day amid tight security on Thursday with no clear winner emerging in the race for control of the Senate.

With an estimated 28.60 percent of votes counted, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's hopes of a crushing victory in Monday's legislative and local elections looked like being frustrated by supporters of her detained predecessor Joseph Estrada.

Partial, unofficial results made available by NAMFREL, a private poll counting body, showed Arroyo's People Power Coalition on course to win eight of the 13 Senate seats on offer.

Estrada's Power of the Masses party was on course to win four seats with an independent candidate likely to take the last. Arroyo needs nine to ensure a solid majority in the 24-seat house.

Voting itself was comparatively peaceful, but senior military officials on Wednesday said about 100 people have been killed in political violence since campaigning began in January.

However, Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday contested the death toll, saying some cases were not election- related killings. Their records show 76 deaths.

Even after the elections, the police force remained on alert to prevent violence and thwart any attempts to sabotage canvassing of votes, a process under which local votes are tabulated in what are called certificates of canvass and then sent to provincial or regional headquarters to be tallied.

"The president is closely monitoring the elections. For instance, if there are even slight reports of fraud, she has been asking her political leaders and allies to check it out," Presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said

Senate results will not be released until all certificates of canvass from all provinces have been tallied. Because of different population in provinces, it is difficult to forecast the results of the senatorial race until more than 80 percent of votes have been counted.

Philippine stocks bobbed in a tight range to close softer as political jitters kept investors sidelined. The benchmark stock index closed down 0.6 percent on Thursday at 1,453.03 points on a small turnover.

"The market shows it is in favor of eight winners from the administration, anything lower than that is considered unfavorable," said Joan Bueno-Eala, fund manager at Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Trust.

For the second day in a row, the government Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the official count had been delayed.

Rebellion

In a further development, the Philippine government on Thursday vowed to pursue rebellion charges against opposition politicians even if they win in the senatorial elections.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said the immunity from arrest accorded to members of the Senate "will not be applicable" if they are charged with rebellion.

He noted that the privilege is limited to crimes carrying a penalty of up to six years. Rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment.

At least two opposition candidates accused of leading a failed rebellion against President Arroyo are among the potential winners in the race for 13 seats in the 24-member Senate.

Perez said charges of rebellion will be filed against Senator Gregorio Honasan, who is seeking re-election, and former police chief Panfilo Lacson, even if they win.

"If we find enough evidence against them, we will file charges even if they are already senators," Perez said in a radio interview.

Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile, seeking re-election, have also been linked to the rebellion. It was not yet clear if they will make it back to the Senate.

Enrile has already been charged with rebellion, but was freed on bail a week before the May 14 elections.

Honasan and Lacson went into hiding after the alleged rebellion failed. They resurfaced two days before the voting after Arroyo promised that they would not be arrested.

Tens of thousands of loyalists of jailed former president rioted outside the Malacanang presidential palace on May 1, leaving four people dead and more than 100 others injured.