At least five more people have been killed in the Philippines since Friday in violence related to the mid-term elections to be held in two day's time, said police on Saturday.

 

Four people were killed and three others wounded, including a mayoral candidate of ruling Lakas-CMD coalition in Shariff Kabunsuan province in southern Philippines in an ambush Friday evening, police said.

 

A bodyguard of the mayor of Esperanza town in Masbate province, central Philippines, was shot dead by members of the Philippine National Police special action agents in a shootout Saturday, said police.

 

The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines started re-deploying forces nationwide Friday to thwart any attempt by terrorists and rebel groups to disrupt the polls to be held Monday.

 

So far at least 109 people have been killed and 112 others wounded in 153 election-related violence incidents since the country started the election period on Jan. 14, according to police statistics.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2007)