In May 1995 elections were held for all local government seats except those of the villages (barangays). Elections were also held for the 204 elective seats of the House of Representatives and 12 Senate seats (IHT 27 May 1995; The Far East and Australasia 1996 1996, 909; Asian Survey Feb. 1996, 142). Over 60,000 candidates contested some 17,342 seats (Asian Survey Feb. 1996, 142). According to two sources, between 70 and 80 per cent of registered voters participated in the elections (Country Reports 1995 1996, 704; The Far East and Australasia 1996 1996, 909).

According to Asian Survey, the government coalition of Lakas (People Power group) and National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD) and Laban (Struggle of Democratic Filipinos) won 9 of the 12 Senate seats, 89 per cent of the 204 seats in the House and approximately 86 per cent of major local government positions (Feb. 1996, 143).

Following "widespread violence" on the island of Mindanao, voting was cancelled and a special election was scheduled for 27 May 1995 (Keesing's May 1995, 40553; The Far East and Australasia 1996 1996, 909). The 27 May 1995 Agence France Presse (AFP) attachment discusses the special congressional and local elections held in Sulu and Maguindanao, two predominantly Muslim provinces in the south, following the invalidation of the 8 May 1995 elections due to "cheating and fighting" between rival Muslim factions.

Country Reports 1995 states that although "the elections and campaign period were generally fair" (1996, 697),

[v]iolence and voting irregularities (including multiple registration of voters, non-existent or dead voters, intimidation, and vote buying) marred the electoral process. More than 80 persons were killed in some 250 election-related incidents. The more prominent victims included a sitting congressman from Masbate province and a gubernatorial challenger in Nueva Ecija (ibid. 704)

House representative Tito Espinosa of Lukas-Muco was killed in February 1995 (Xinhua 28 Feb. 1995) and gubernatorial candidate Honorato Perez was killed on 21 April 1995 (UPI 22 Apr. 1995). Additional information on pre-election and election violence can be found in the following attachments: Agence France Presse (AFP) of 8 May 1995, Reuters of 9 May 1995 and Xinhua of 9 May 1995.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 May 1995. "Special Elections Held in Moslem Areas as Ramos Allies Maintain Lead." (NEXIS)

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. February 1996. Vol. 36, No. 2. Carolina G. Hernandez. "The Philippines in 1995: Growth Amid Challenges."

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

The Far East and Australasia 1996. 1996. 27th ed. London: Europa Publications.

International Herald Tribune (IHT) (Neuilly). 27 May 1995. Keith B. Richburg. "Ramos Victory in Philippines; Election Also Brings a Generational Change." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. May 1995. Vol. 41, No. 5. "Philippines: Congressional Elections."

United Press International (UPI). 22 April 1995. BC Cycle. "Candidate Shot Dead in Philippines." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agence. 28 February 1995. "Philippine House Representative Killed in Ambush." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 May 1995. "Special Elections Held in Moslem Areas as Ramos Allies Maintain Lead." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 May 1995. "Philippine Poll Violence Claims at Least 36 Lives." (NEXIS)

Asia 1996 Yearbook: A Review of the Events of 1995. 1996. Hong Kong: FEER, pp. 193-94.

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. February 1996. Vol. 36, No. 2. Carolina G. Hernandez. "The Philippines in 1995: Growth Amid Challenges," pp. 142-145.

The Far East and Australasia 1996. 1996. 27th ed. London: Europa Publications, p. 908-9.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. May 1995. Vol. 41, No. 5. "Philippines: Congressional Elections," pp. 40553-54.

Reuters. 9 May 1995. BC Cycle. Rene Pastor. "Ramos Election Win Seen as Endorsement of Rule." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 22 April 1995. BC Cycle. "Candidate Shot Dead in Philippines." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 9 May 1995. "10 More Poll-Related Deaths Reported in Philippines." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 February 1995. "Philippine House Representative Killed in Ambush." (NEXIS)
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