To Two . . . and Counting

AFTER FIVE DAYS OF VOTE COUNTING, ALL THAT WAS clear in last week's Philippine presidential election was which of the seven candidates had lost. They included House Speaker Ramon Mitra and Vice President Salvador Laurel, nominees of the country's two largest parties. Imelda Marcos, the former President's widow, was sixth, and Eduardo Cojuangco, a longtime Marcos colleague, was third.

The front runners at week's end, with less than a quarter of the vote tabulated, were former Defense Minister Fidel Ramos and reform candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago. Ramos, who is President Corazon Aquino's choice to succeed her, had edged slightly ahead of Santiago, who promptly charged that "wholesale election fraud" was taking place.

That seemed entirely possible. A group of international election observers reported that some poll officials were too drunk to keep track of voters, ballot boxes were being opened without authorization, and threats and bribery were widespread. The glacial vote count continues this week. The outgoing Congress, which is tabulating the votes for President and Vice President, will eventually announce the winners.