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| Millions vote in Philippines poll | Millions vote in Philippines poll |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting in national and local elections in the Philippines has been extended by one hour due to long queues of voters. | Voting in national and local elections in the Philippines has been extended by one hour due to long queues of voters. |
| Filipinos will elect a new president and vice-president, as well as more than 17,000 other positions. | Filipinos will elect a new president and vice-president, as well as more than 17,000 other positions. |
| The queues have been linked to problems with new automated vote-counting machines, some of which had failed to operate properly in pre-poll testing. | The queues have been linked to problems with new automated vote-counting machines, some of which had failed to operate properly in pre-poll testing. |
| Six people were killed as voters cast their ballots, amid reports of continuing violence in the south. | Six people were killed as voters cast their ballots, amid reports of continuing violence in the south. |
| Benigno Aquino, the son of the popular former president, Cory Aquino, has been leading the polls but former president Joseph Estrada is also in the running. | Benigno Aquino, the son of the popular former president, Cory Aquino, has been leading the polls but former president Joseph Estrada is also in the running. |
| Outgoing President Gloria Arroyo, whose term expires in June, is running for a seat in parliament. | Outgoing President Gloria Arroyo, whose term expires in June, is running for a seat in parliament. |
| Determined to vote | Determined to vote |
| The BBC's Philippines correspondent Kate McGeown is at the Nemesio Yabut elementary school in the capital, Manila, and says long lines have formed with hundreds of people waiting in the heat for a chance to vote. | The BBC's Philippines correspondent Kate McGeown is at the Nemesio Yabut elementary school in the capital, Manila, and says long lines have formed with hundreds of people waiting in the heat for a chance to vote. |
| AT THE SCENE Kate McGeown, BBC News, Manila | AT THE SCENE Kate McGeown, BBC News, Manila |
| Nemesio Yabut elementary school is more used to queues of children than queues of adults, but today they're here in their hundreds waiting for a chance to vote. It's one of Manila's biggest polling stations - about 20,000 people are expected to pass through here today. | Nemesio Yabut elementary school is more used to queues of children than queues of adults, but today they're here in their hundreds waiting for a chance to vote. It's one of Manila's biggest polling stations - about 20,000 people are expected to pass through here today. |
| It's hot and sticky here, and some people have already been waiting for hours. But everyone still seems to be in high spirits, and some people have even started selling food and drink here to the waiting crowds. People I've spoken to say they are excited about today, but also worried about the possibility of violence. | It's hot and sticky here, and some people have already been waiting for hours. But everyone still seems to be in high spirits, and some people have even started selling food and drink here to the waiting crowds. People I've spoken to say they are excited about today, but also worried about the possibility of violence. |
| The school's principal, Marilyn Macalma, said she expected 22,500 people to turn up to vote there. | The school's principal, Marilyn Macalma, said she expected 22,500 people to turn up to vote there. |
| People take elections seriously in the Philippines and an estimated 85% of those eligible are expected to vote. | People take elections seriously in the Philippines and an estimated 85% of those eligible are expected to vote. |
| But as had been predicted, glitches have been reported with the country's new automated voting system. | But as had been predicted, glitches have been reported with the country's new automated voting system. |
| Even the election front-runner, Mr Aquino, had trouble voting at his home province of Tarlac because the ballot-counting machine had broken down. | Even the election front-runner, Mr Aquino, had trouble voting at his home province of Tarlac because the ballot-counting machine had broken down. |
| "Hopefully, this is just an isolated incident. We are waiting for more reports... (but) if people can't vote because the machines don't accept their ballots, then certainly that is a problem," Mr Aquino said. | "Hopefully, this is just an isolated incident. We are waiting for more reports... (but) if people can't vote because the machines don't accept their ballots, then certainly that is a problem," Mr Aquino said. |
| Voter Armand Juele, 42, said he had queued for more than an hour to cast his ballot and the line was still 50m (yards) long. | Voter Armand Juele, 42, said he had queued for more than an hour to cast his ballot and the line was still 50m (yards) long. |
| "It's super-disorganised. There's no order. It's the worst election by far," he told Reuters. | "It's super-disorganised. There's no order. It's the worst election by far," he told Reuters. |
| Another unnamed voter said he had no intention of leaving despite the long queues. | Another unnamed voter said he had no intention of leaving despite the long queues. |
| "We have to push through with the voting. It would be a waste of our rights," he said. | "We have to push through with the voting. It would be a waste of our rights," he said. |
| Throughout the campaign the issue of the automated voting machines has dominated headlines. | Throughout the campaign the issue of the automated voting machines has dominated headlines. |
| Election commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal appealed to voters in Manila to wait patiently and said back-up machines were available if ones in use malfunctioned. | Election commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal appealed to voters in Manila to wait patiently and said back-up machines were available if ones in use malfunctioned. |
| "What's important is that you will be processed. You will be able to vote. Your vote will be counted," he said. | "What's important is that you will be processed. You will be able to vote. Your vote will be counted," he said. |
| Poll violence | Poll violence |
| The presidential contenders are vying to replace Mrs Arroyo, who came to power in 2001 and is stepping down as she reaches her constitutional two-term limit. | The presidential contenders are vying to replace Mrs Arroyo, who came to power in 2001 and is stepping down as she reaches her constitutional two-term limit. |
| PHILIPPINES ELECTION Voting for president, vice-president and more than 17,000 officialsSome 50m registered voters85% turnout expectedPresidential front-runners include Joseph Estrada, Benigno Aquino and Manny VillayMore than 90 people killed in pre-election violenceProblems reported with new automated voting machines Philippine poll: Key candidates In pictures: Philippine poll | PHILIPPINES ELECTION Voting for president, vice-president and more than 17,000 officialsSome 50m registered voters85% turnout expectedPresidential front-runners include Joseph Estrada, Benigno Aquino and Manny VillayMore than 90 people killed in pre-election violenceProblems reported with new automated voting machines Philippine poll: Key candidates In pictures: Philippine poll |
| Her premiership has been marred by allegations of corruption and she has fended off several impeachment motions put forward by Congress. | Her premiership has been marred by allegations of corruption and she has fended off several impeachment motions put forward by Congress. |
| She is now running for a post in Congress herself and her opponents have said they will file corruption charges against her once she no longer has presidential immunity. | She is now running for a post in Congress herself and her opponents have said they will file corruption charges against her once she no longer has presidential immunity. |
| Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino has been the pre-election day favourite to replace Mrs Arroyo. | Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino has been the pre-election day favourite to replace Mrs Arroyo. |
| Correspondents say the 50-year-old's political pedigree - as the son of the beloved former president who died in August last year - has been hugely important in his campaign, but he is also considered an honest, if inexperienced, candidate. | Correspondents say the 50-year-old's political pedigree - as the son of the beloved former president who died in August last year - has been hugely important in his campaign, but he is also considered an honest, if inexperienced, candidate. |
| Joseph "Erap" Estrada is another front-runner but correspondents say his past could play against him. He was deposed and jailed by Mrs Arroyo in 2001 on allegations of corruption, although she later pardoned him. | Joseph "Erap" Estrada is another front-runner but correspondents say his past could play against him. He was deposed and jailed by Mrs Arroyo in 2001 on allegations of corruption, although she later pardoned him. |
| Property tycoon Manny Villar is also expected to do well. His campaign on focused on what he portrays as his rise from poverty to riches but has been tainted by corruption allegations. | Property tycoon Manny Villar is also expected to do well. His campaign on focused on what he portrays as his rise from poverty to riches but has been tainted by corruption allegations. |
| Security has been high around polling stations in an attempt to stave of the violence that has accompanied the country's past elections. | Security has been high around polling stations in an attempt to stave of the violence that has accompanied the country's past elections. |
| But there were sporadic reports of violence as polling took place. | But there were sporadic reports of violence as polling took place. |
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| The latest deaths bring the toll over the four months leading up to the elections to 35 killed. | The latest deaths bring the toll over the four months leading up to the elections to 35 killed. |
| Those deaths are in addition to the 57 people killed in Maguindanao province in November when a group tried to register a candidate for the elections in an area held by a rival clan. | Those deaths are in addition to the 57 people killed in Maguindanao province in November when a group tried to register a candidate for the elections in an area held by a rival clan. |
| Twelve members of the clan, the Amapatuans, have been charged with involvement in the mass killing, but 10 of them are running for posts in these polls. | Twelve members of the clan, the Amapatuans, have been charged with involvement in the mass killing, but 10 of them are running for posts in these polls. |
| Are you in the Philippines? Did you vote? Who do you think should win the election? Send us your views using the form below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |