Arroyo claims win in Philippine vote despite reverses

MANILA, May 16 (Reuters) Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo claimed victory today for her allies in congressional elections and predicted political stability despite some high-profile protest votes against her government.

Pro-administration party Lakas, quoting partial results, said it had so far won 134 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives following Monday's election.

However, the official Commission on Elections had not announced any results and there were no details yet on any opposition wins.

''I believe we will have an even bigger majority in the House and an almost complete sweep of the local chief executives,'' Arroyo said in a statement.

''There's going to be political stability.'' An administration sweep of the House and in elections to about 18,000 local posts was expected due to superior grassroots machinery, and its victory would insulate Arroyo from another impeachment bid, which would need the support of one third of the lower chamber.

But the president looks set to be stuck with an obstructionist Senate until her term runs out in 2010 as early trends show opposition names leading the race for six out of 12 seats.

Four administration candidates and two independents are also in the race for the upper house, whose members have traditionally opposed the president amid allegations she cheated in the 2004 polls and attempts by her to abolish the Senate.

Although Arroyo herself was not contesting this election, many Filipinos took the opportunity to reward candidates with an overtly anti-government platform.

One of the top leaders in the Senate races is Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, a navy officer in jail on charges of mutiny and an attempted coup in 2003. He was not allowed to campaign.

''This election has proven itself. It's a referendum against Arroyo and the strongest proof of that is Trillanes,'' said Adel Tamano, spokesman for the opposition.

''He is the ultimate protest vote.'' SLAP IN THE FACE The Senate voting trends this year, and the possibility of Trillanes winning, are a slap in the face for the administration and underline Arroyo's unpopularity, analysts say.

In the lower house and at a local level, the government also appears to be on the verge of some embarrassing losses.

In the president's hometurf north of Manila, a Catholic priest who campaigned against the political status quo is ahead in the race for governor.

In the south, the administration had counted on national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao to win a seat in Congress but incumbent Darlene Custodio, who led two previous failed impeachment bids against Arroyo, looks set to beat him.

Film stars and celebrities have traditionally topped the polls in the Philippines but have so far fared poorly, a sign, analysts say, that the electorate is maturing.

''They realise that those people are in the Senate but they don't even give a good show. They are just quiet and (the public) do not like their performance,'' said Benito Lim, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.

Government critics who have accused Arroyo of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections fear she could do so again.

Lim said officials could manipulate votes in the later stages of counting in a process called ''dagdag-bawas'', or addition and subtraction.

The process involves corrupt election officials subtracting votes from one candidate and adding them to another candidate's tally.

It will be weeks before final results for the Senate are known because results have yet to be collated.

REUTERS ABM HT1750