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Sweeping Senate Victory For Arroyo?
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, May 14 (IslamOnline) - Just like the waves of protests that led to the emergence of People Power 2 in Manila, storming Joseph Estrada out of power, the senatorial elections in the Philippines on Monday will likely produce a sweeping victory for the People Power Coalition (PPC).
If the trend surfacing on Monday continues and is confirmed, a PPC victory will be tremendous and would confirm Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's grip on power in the Philippines.
The victory would also serve as a deep blow to former president Estrada whose future would most likely linger behind prison bars.
Sources in Manila, however, said it was yet too early to say who won the bloodiest electoral battle since the downfall of former president Ferdinand Marcos.
The PPC said it is not celebrating just yet, even though eight of its candidates were in the top ten of potential elected senators. Only three pro-Estrada Puwersa grouping candidates were currently among the leading 13 candidates.
A surprise candidate, popular broadcaster Noli de Castro, was leading polls at the time of writing. Only 13 senators are to be elected during this round of voting.
The Philippines are voting for mid-term elections that affect the Senate, Congress, multiple municipalities and governors posts.
Violence and confusion marred the conduct of the elections with a death toll that reached 77. Many of the dead were PPC candidates running either for governorships or mayoral positions.
Elections were cancelled in three areas while confusion reigned in other areas nationwide as polls were delayed due to lack of election ballots.
Sources in Manila said Arroyo has predicted a sweep in the senate race. She had called on Filipinos to "vote wisely", and give her administration much needed support.
Estrada's wife, Luisa Ejercito, saw her electoral chances dwindle as results came in, slipping from a firm 4th place to 14th, meaning a virtual defeat if the votes are confirmed.
Sources say that would be a definite blow to Estrada who hoped his wife could win a place in the senate to fight for his release.
The deposed leader exercised his right to vote in a special poll precinct at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where he is undergoing treatment.
Estrada is in jail on charges of plundering the economy, charges that come with a death sentence by lethal injection in the Philippines if found guilty. Estrada's presidency collapsed after revelations of his involvement in illegal betting in a scandal labeled "Jeuteng Gate".
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