FT922-8941 _AN-CEKAUAAZFT 920511 FT 11 MAY 92 / 28 die in run-up to Manila elections By VICTOR MALLET and JOSE GALANG MANILA FILIPINOS go to the polls today to elect a president to replace Mrs Corazon Aquino after a campaign marked by growing violence and accusations of intimidation and intended fraud. Police said communist rebels of the New People's Army killed 17 policemen yesterday in a dawn ambush in the northern province of Cagayan, and seven civilians were reported to have been killed by two explosions on Saturday at campaign rallies on the southern island of Mindanao. Violence elsewhere took the weekend death toll to 28. The various political and family factions competing in the elections for the presidency, the vice-presidency, the congress and some 17,000 local government posts have accused one another of sending death threats and planning to stuff ballot boxes, and the climate of instability has prompted fears of a coup. The violence and the recriminations, however, did little to dampen the enthusiasm of voters attending flamboyant weekend rallies enlivened by firework displays, popular music and the appearance of local film stars - a crucial ingredient for electoral success in the Philippines. Among the seven presidential candidates are Mr Ramon Mitra, the speaker of the House of Representatives and standard-bearer of the majority party in congress, the Laban ng Democratikong Pilipino, and Mr Fidel Ramos, the former defence chief backed by Mrs Aquino. Mrs Imelda Marcos is also standing, but her chances are regarded as slim. The Financial Times London Page 6