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Elections 2007: 3Gs rear hideous head on campaign’s Day 3


Election history in the Philippines has a brutal way of repeating itself. Many Filipinos would say that what decides elections in the Philippines are the 3 Gs: guns, goons and gold--gold being the money to bribe the voters, guns being the alternative method of persuading those voters who you can't bribe and goons being the thugs who wield their guns. On Day 3 of the 90-day campaign period Thursday, the dreaded 3Gs made an early intrusion. Guns: The National Police reported Thursday that a total of 11 people have been killed while six others wounded in 13 election-related violent incidents since the election period began January 14. In a statement signed by PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr, the police said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings, without mentioning where the two unidentified suspects were involved. He did not say if those killed were politicians or their supporters, government security forces or rebels. Goons: A police official on Thursday said that one of the nine heavily armed men intercepted at a checkpoint in Laguna on Tuesday night could be a former soldier. Southern Luzon police regional head Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan Jr said that the suspect could be a former Philippine Army member as the man had a tattoo on his left shoulder. With the finding, he said he has asked the police and military's respective logistics units to check if the firearms seized from the "Laguna 9" came from their armories. Police are now zeroing in on some "personalities" believed to be behind the group. Radovan said that the presence of lawyers who immediately invoked the suspects' right to silence was an indication that politicians were behind the group. Gold: Although gold refers to money, material things or favors to bribe the voters, it took a new meaning Thursday when the "Grand Coalition" of opposition parties that is now called "Genuine Opposition" said members of the business sector are reluctant to contribute to its campaign kitty for fear that the Arroyo administration would get back at them. Lawyer Adel Tamano said businessmen approached by San Juan Mayor Jose Victor "JV" Ejercito, campaign manager for the "Grand Coalition," have begged off from making any commitment about contributing to the campaign pool of the opposition. "In the discussions of Mayor JV (Ejercito) with the business sector, they have intimated to him their fears about donating for the campaign of the Grand Coalition. Baka raw kasi balikan sila ng administrasyon eh (The administration might get back at their businesses if they donate)," he said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum. He said the coalition - composed of the Partido ng Mamamayang Pilipino (PMP), Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), PDP-Laban and Aksyon Demokratiko - would have to make the most of whatever financial assistance they would get from "sympathetic" companies and supporters.- GMANews.TV

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