Philippines votes in congressional elections

LUBAO, Philippines, May 14 (Reuters) The Philippines voted today for almost every elected official in the country except the president and the vice-president, but analysts said there was unlikely to be any change in the nation's political make-up.

At least six people were killed in election violence across the country and there were scattered reports of intimidation and ballot snatching after voting started at 0700 hrs local time (0430 IST).

More than 120 people have been killed since the campaign began three months ago, but the figure is lower than the 189 killed in the last elections, in 2004.

Polls are to close today at 1500 hrs local time (1230 IST) but first results are not expected until Thursday.

By early morning, people started lining up outside many of the country's 300,000 polling centres, waiting for the official start of balloting.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was among the early voters, casting her ballot at a schoolhouse in the town of Lubao, north of Manila. She did not speak to reporters.

Arroyo's administration is likely to sweep elections for the 275-seat House of Representatives and most of the 18,000 or so local government posts but the opposition is tipped to strengthen its grip on the Senate by winning a majority of the 12 seats being contested.

In the previous chamber, the opposition already held a majority in the Senate, allowing them to block administration-sponsored bills.

''PREDICTABLE RESULTS'' ''Most people think the elections are going to produce predictable results,'' said Scott Harrison, managing director of risk analysts Pacific Strategies and Assessments Ltd.

''You are probably going to have the opposition taking majority control of the Senate. Conventional wisdom suggests the administration, because of its grassroots strength and the power of its purse strings, will probably come out on top with the most congress seats.'' The Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper said: ''If election is about change or renewal, either at the top or at the level of policy, today's election locks us into the trap that retains the status quo.'' Arroyo's term lasts until 2010 and she is not eligible to contest again, although commentators say she could renew attempts to change the constitution later this year and adopt a parliamentary form government.

The Supreme Court blocked such an attempt last year.

The president's critics said the administration might rig the election, as many allege it did during presidential elections in 2004 to help Arroyo win.

Commentators said any systematic poll fraud could lead to unrest.

On the eve of election day, bags of rice, tins of sardines and packets of instant noodles, goodies which are traditionally handed out by political parties, were distributed to poor communities.

Rival candidates had also rented mini-buses to transport people from their homes to polling booths.

Many believe money will also be handed out to induce voters.

Votes will be manually counted at each precinct and the exercise is expected to be completed by noon (0930 IST) tomorrow.

Initial results for local posts could start trickling in on Thursday but for the senate, final results could take from three weeks to about a month.

REUTERS GT HS1018