Security forces in the Philippines are on high alert as voters go to the polls in parliamentary and local elections.
 Soldiers are guarding thousands of voting stations | Security officials have said communist rebels are planning to disrupt the vote and thousands of soldiers have joined police guarding polling centres. More than 110 people have been killed in a violent election campaign period. Correspondents say the opposition is unlikely to gain enough parliamentary seats to restart a bid to impeach President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Critics of Mrs Arroyo charge that she cheated to win the presidency in May 2004. She has already withstood two bids to impeach her and several coup attempts. Political feuds About 87,000 candidates are contesting nearly 18,000 positions. Polling stations opened at 0700 (2300 GMT Sunday) and will close at 1500 (0700 GMT). As well as elections for the 275-seat parliament, about 45 million voters are choosing governors, provincial and municipal assemblies, local mayors and half of the senate's 24 seats. Voter turnout is typically at least 70% in the Philippines. The coalition supporting President Arroyo is likely to retain control of the parliament, but the latest opinion polls indicate the opposition may gain ground in the senate. At least one person was reported killed as voting took place: a village chief was shot dead in Bucay township in Abra province in the north of the country. In the same province, two policemen were killed on Sunday as they helped election officials carry ballot boxes in Lagayan township. The three-month campaign season was marked by violence in which more than 110 people were killed. Private armies There is a tradition in some areas of the Philippines of violent feuds between political rivals, says the BBC's Jonathan Head, reporting from the island of Masbate.  Thousands of seats are up for grabs in the election | Some people there have told him that vote buying is still going on, even as polling takes place, and that many people wait until late in the day while they negotiate the price of their vote. The army has been deployed to help police control the private armies that are hired to intimidate rival candidates and voters, our correspondent adds. Security officials have also warned of plans by the communist New People's Army to disrupt voting by attacking military and civilian targets. "This planned tactical offensive is the NPA's desperate attempt to undermine our democratic process," said national police's director general, Oscar Calderon. Two soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an ambush on a military convoy on Saturday in Mountain Province in Luzon. A rebel spokesman quoted by Associated Press news agency said the attack was carried out to avenge alleged military killings of left-wing activists. | 
