The Philippines: A Message for Marcos

In relatively free elections, opponents make unexpected gains

On the morning of the nationwide elections, Benedictine sisters from the Eucharistic King convent awoke before dawn, attended Mass, then braced themselves for violence. Small wonder: the nuns had signed up to serve as poll watchers in the northern town of Vigan, where for decades local thugs have rigged elections with intimidating tactics that would make a Mafioso blush. But throughout the day, the women stood firm. When the mayor swept up to a polling center with three Jeepfuls of cronies armed with fraudulent ballots,...