46 acts of political violence in 4 months: Comelec

MANILA: Philippines election hopefuls like mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa have to ask them selves whether the job is worth taking a bullet.

- Agence France-Presse

The country's elections commission, Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violence between January 12 and April II, including the shooting of Espinosa.

At a rally this month, someone from the crowd fired a bullet that went through his chest and exited his arm, leaving him bleeding but alive.

Others have been less lucky.

A city council hopeful, a polling officer and a village chief were among those killed in similar attacks in the run-up to mid-term elections on May 12.

Comelec said "fewer than 20" candidates have been killed so far this campaign season, which it notes is a drop.