Five dead on eve of Philippine elections

Five people were killed in the Philippines yesterday as tensions flared on the eve of national elections, which are expected to see favourite Benigno Aquino win the presidency in a landslide.
The build-up to the elections has been typically tumultuous for one of Asia's most free-wheeling democracies, with dozens of people killed, ferocious mudslinging and dark rumours of illegal power grabs.
Five people were shot dead on Sunday in two remote parts of the country involving gunmen loyal to local candidates, while communist guerrillas also destroyed five vote counting machines, authorities said.