The pro-administration candidates in the congressional and local elections of the Philippines called on the country's major media Monday evening to stop pre-claiming the results of the elections as some media are claiming landslide victory for the opposition in the Senate race.

The pro-administration candidates' Team Unity (TU) spokesman Tonypet Albano said "trending" by major media has been the main reason for why there are many allegations of cheating in the past, adding that they got information from some voting centers which showed just the opposite of what the media are talking about.

"We will release all these if the tallies are already complete," Albano said.

The local television network ABS-CBN News said at least five opposition candidates for the Senate are leading as initial counting of votes have been coming out, while only two pro- administration candidates look hopeful to win the Senate seat.

The local daily Philippine Daily Inquirer website also echoed the reports by ABS-CBN News, showing on its running account of the outcoming poll results that opposition candidates are leading in the run for the Senate.

The Philippines is expected to produce 12 Senators in the elections, together with 265 House Representatives and some 17,000 local officials.

Meanwhile, Team Unity said it has won a devastating victory in local elections with 95 percent of its candidates nationwide ran unopposed.

"If this is a referendum against President Arroyo, we already have the right to celebrate. The fact that majority of our candidates won is a vote of confidence for the President," said Albano.

He said 243 TU local candidates ran unopposed in various provinces and 24 city mayors were already assured of victory.

"We have already received a left and right invitation to party and celebrate with them," he said.

Source: Xinhua