In ComVal, �kamang� rules as military turns partisan

A soldier peers into the vehicle of foreign observers en route to Compostela Valley on Election Day. (Cheryll Fiel) Slideshow

Apart from the vote buying and harassments by candidates and their henchmen, the heavy presence of the military dominated the atmosphere in Compostela Valley before and during the elections. The soldiers were supposedly sent to the province to augment the police and keep the peace but, according to officials and residents, the military was directly involved in incidents of intimidating or harassing voters and vilifying partylist groups.