Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo claimed victory on Wednesday for her allies in congressional elections and predicted political stability despite some high-profile protest votes against her government.
Pro-administration party Lakas, quoting partial results, said it had so far won 134 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives following Monday's election. However, the official Commission on Elections had not announced any results and there were no details yet on any opposition wins. "I believe we will have an even bigger majority in the House and an almost complete sweep of the local chief executives," Arroyo said in a statement. "There's going to be political stability."
An administration sweep of the House and in elections to about 18,000 local posts was expected due to superior grassroots machinery, and its victory would insulate Arroyo from another impeachment bid, which would need the support of one third of the lower chamber.
But the president looks set to be stuck with an obstructionist Senate until her term runs out in 2010 as early trends show opposition names leading the race for six out of 12 seats.
Four administration candidates and two independents are also in the race for the upper house, whose members have traditionally opposed the president amid allegations she cheated in the 2004 polls and attempts by her to abolish the Senate. Although Arroyo herself was not contesting this election, many Filipinos took the opportunity to reward candidates with an overtly anti-government platform.
One of the top leaders in the Senate races is Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, a navy officer in jail on charges of mutiny and an attempted coup in 2003. He was not allowed to campaign. In the president's hometurf north of Manila, a Catholic priest who campaigned against the political status quo is ahead in the race for governor.
In the south, the administration had counted on national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao to win a seat in Congress but incumbent Darlene Custodio, who led two previous failed impeachment bids against Arroyo, looks set to beat him.
Film stars and celebrities have traditionally topped the polls in the Philippines but have so far fared poorly, a sign, analysts say, that the electorate is maturing.
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