Mayor, 2 police charged in Philippine poll killing

Police filed murder charges Thursday against a town mayor, his two police bodyguards and three others in the killing of a rival candidate, as political violence spiked ahead of next month's Philippine elections.

Witnesses have identified a police officer in Mayor Joshua Judd Secchon Lanete's security escort as the gunman who killed the politician's opponent in the central island province of Masbate last weekend, said Senior Superintendent Victor Deona.

At least 33 people have been killed in election-related attacks since Jan. 10, police said. The Philippines polls are May 10.

Elections are often marred by violence and fraud. About 130 people were killed during the 2007 elections. Nearly a third of Philippine cities and municipalities have been identified as potential hotspots for election unrest.

In the worst case in the country's recent history, members of a powerful clan are accused of massacring 57 people, including journalists, family members and supporters of a political rival, in the southern Philippines, in November.

Afterward, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo created a commission charged with dismantling more than 100 private armies on the payroll of political warlords.

Some were disbanded, but a member of the commission, Herman Basbano,told reporters Wednesday that more gunmen were being hired despite the government crackdown.

"Candidates resort to using these private armed groups," he said.

Police have said that nearly 2,000 people have been arrested across the country for violation of an election gun ban.

Mayor Lanete and the other accused were taken into custody and could not be reached for comment Thursday.