5 killed in ambushes on eve of midterm elections in Philippines
Five people were killed in separate ambushes in the volatile southern Philippines, police and the military said yesterday, and a radio reporter was kidnapped by armed men on the eve of midterm elections.
Two men armed with firearms abducted radio journalist Melinda Jennifer Glifonea at dawn at a restaurant in Candelaria, a farming town three hours south of Manila.
Chief Inspector Edcille Canals said Glifonea is known for stinging political commentary on her show at the local Edge Radio.
Her abduction came at the end of a violent weekend which saw five deaths on the campaign trail ahead of today's vote in which 18,000 posts are up for grabs, from mayors and governors to members of parliament.
On Saturday, communist New People's Army rebels ambushed the convoy of Bukidnon town mayor Joelito Jacosalem Talaid, wounding the politician and killing four of his bodyguards.
Talaid's ambush came on the same day as heavily armed men attacked the convoy of Omar Baba, a candidate for mayor in South Upi town, which is also in Mindanao.
