Three people, including a soldier, were wounded as special balloting opened on Saturday in 13 Muslim towns in the southern Philippines amid blasts and gunfire, said a police general.
Joel Goltiao, police chief in the six-province Muslim region southern island of Mindanao, said the soldier was wounded when troops exchanged automatic gunfire with armed men trying to snatch ballot boxes in Pualas town. "The casting of votes started on time and was going smoothly despite pockets of violence," Goltiao said, adding seven blasts were heard before balloting started in Masiu town.
The election watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) said results from these balloting could help decide the last two slots in the race for 12 seats in the uper house of Congress.
Unofficial counts of NAMFREL and the Commission on Elections showed the opposition is leading the contest with eight slots, followed by two pro-administration candidates and two independents. Thirty-seven were running for 12 Senate seats.
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