Philippines polls close, anomalies reported

More than 36 million Filipinos will vote in the elections

By staff and wire reports

MANILA, Philippines -- Civic groups reported scattered violence, but no major disruption as polls for congressional and local elections closed across the Philippines.

"So far, by and large, compared to past elections, today's elections were generally okay," Alfredo Benipayo, chairman of the watchdog Commission on Elections, told reporters an hour before balloting ended.

The private National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and its affiliates, who are monitoring the polls, told CNN that they received reports of minor problems.

These include voters being unable to cast ballots, because their names didn't appear on official lists. But the irregularities didn't keep most officials from closing the polls and counting ballots on time.

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"We would like to congratulate the (election officials), the armed forces of the Philippines, the Philippine national police, for making sure that these were relatively peaceful and orderly elections," presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said.

"We have to congratulate ourselves (that) given all political volatility in the past several months we were able to conduct the first election in the new millennium," Tiglao added.

Most precincts are expected to wrap up a hand-count of individual ballots in a few hours.

An estimated 36.5 million Filipinos voted on Monday for more than 17,500 municipal and provincial seats, the entire House of Representatives and 13 of 24 Senators.

The vote is seen as a proxy war between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in the wake of large-scale demonstrations on January 20.

Namfrel told CNN that it expects to be able to wrap up its "Operation Quick Count" of election results in between nine and 10 days. Official results may not be available for several weeks.

Arroyo, Estrada cast ballots

Polling began at 7 a.m., but Arroyo didn't emerge to cast her ballot until late morning in her home region of Pampanga.

She took the opportunity to call on Filipinos to keep the elections peaceful and to vote according to their consciences.

"We need to guard the ballots," Arroyo said. "I'm hoping for a peaceful election process. I'm hoping the armed forces and the police will stay professional in their duties."

Estrada is popular among the urban poor

Estrada, for his part, voted at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, where he is now undergoing medical tests.

He and his son, Jose "Jinggoy" were brought there Saturday after they complained of various illnesses.

The country's anti-graft court had allowed both men to vote in their home district of San Juan in Manila, but rescinded the order after the police appealed this decision.

Police officials said the ex-president's return to his bailwick could have posed a security problem.

Estrada and his son are expected to remain at the Manila hospital for some time.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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