MAGUINDANAO — Residents push their way inside a polling precinct in Buldon town. Hundreds of voters are getting impatient — shouting, shoving, banging the doors of the precinct, demanding that they be allowed in.

An army soldier tries to break a scuffle while poll watchers and the BEIs insist that voting should be one at a time.

This year’s elections, will serve as a test to Philippines’ fragile democracy. Once an inspiration to emerging democracies for its “people power” overthrow of the American-backed autocrat Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Philippines has suffered from poor governance in the past decade. (Photo by Jes Aznar / Bulatlat.com)

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