Violence mars election day

At least 10 people died across the Philippines in election day violence on Monday, May 9, as gunmen attacked polling stations, ambushed vehicles and stole vote-counting machines, police said. However authorities described the violence as isolated incidents and that the overall conduct of the elections – which saw tens of millions of people cast their votes for president and 18,000 other positions – was peaceful. Other violence and irregularities included killings in Cavite, while in Samar, around 300 votes go to ash after the VCM machine of Brgy Nagpapacao, Matuginao was allegedly burned by unidentified armed men on election day.