SAN ISIDRO (Philippines): Campaigning for local and congressional polls is rolling into its final week in the Philippines with candidates dispensing cash, food, mascots and even their own brand of underwear to woo voters.

Elections in this Southeast Asian country are renowned for their colourful cast of characters, endemic corruption and violence.

In the village of San Isidro, around 50 km north of Manila, Father Ed Panlilio has swapped his clerical robes for a white bullet-proof vest as he campaigns for the governor’s seat in Pampanga, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s home turf.

The Catholic priest, who has been suspended from performing spiritual duties while he focuses on politics, has been getting death threats but vows to keep going with his anti-corruption, anti-Arroyo ticket.

“It’s part of the commitment. It’s all the way,” said the 53-year-old, before boarding a truck festooned with posters of him, in trademark white, looking up to the heavens. “It’s a divine crusade based on gospel values.”

Panlilio’s no-frills campaign relies on donations and volunteers fed up with shady quarrying operations and the province's reputation as a centre for illegal gambling.

His background as a priest carries a lot of weight with devout parishioners in the largely Catholic country.

“We’ve had gambling lords and quarry lords, why not praise the lord?” said Bert Salvador, 46, a Panlilio supporter.

For politicians who can’t rely on divine endorsement, there are the traditional routes to victory – advertising, handouts and, of course, vote-buying and vote-manipulation.

Public office is a lucrative career in the Philippines and with half the 24 seats in the Senate, all 240 slots in the lower house and nearly 18,000 positions in local government up for grabs on May 14, billions of pesos have already been spent trying to secure posts.

On the official campaign trail, politicians dole out freebies, from roast pork and beer to fresh fish and rice, as well as amulets and insurance policies.

But behind the scenes, candidates’ agents dispense cash and favours to get elected. Harassment and intimidation are also employed and smear campaigns are carried out via text message.

Seven out of 10 voters expect vote-buying and half of them think it’s okay to accept the cash provided they vote with their conscience, according to a recent survey.—Reuters