Evening star., 1946-04-23
Roxas Leadinq
|0smena254-101
In Filipino Vote
Presidents Opponent
In Hiding as Result
Of Kidnup Rumor
BY the Associated Press

MANILA, April "a rumOred
kidnap plot sent Presidential
Candidate Manuel Roxas into
hiding today as incomplete and
unofficial returns from 13 pre-
cincts in and around Manila put
him out ahead of President
Sergio Osmena in the Philippines
general election.
The Manila Chronicle said MI
Roxas was leading Mr. Osmena, 254
to 10l, in II incomplete precincts in
Manila. The first two precincts to
report outside Manila gave MI.
Roxas SO votes, Mr.. Osmena IS.
Reports and rumors of violence
echoed through the islands after an
estimated 100000 Filipinos voted
today for candidates to lead them
in the first four years of indie
pendence.
The military police command re-
ported that Gov. Ramor Imperial
of Camarines Sur, province of
Southeast Luzon, and two members
of his party were wounded seriously
when ambushed this afternoon. A
7-year-old boy was killed by auto
matte rifle fire from a house near
the scene of the ambush.
Army Unit on Guard.
The grounds OF Mr. Roxas' resi-.
dence bristled with machine gun.
! and detachment of the Philippine
Army was on guard
| Mr.. RoXaS' secretary. Alfredo
Jacinto, said Mr.. RoXas was in hid
ing because he had heard three
men from the province of Bulacan'
planned to kidnap him.
Military police expressed concern
over the situation in Nueva Ecija
Province Of Central Luzon, storm
center of the agrarian movement
They said it had been isolated
since 3 pm. and all attempts tc
communicate with the provincial
provost marshal had failed.
FREDERICK Sian, supervisor for the
commission on elections, said Mr.
Roxas' inspectors walked out in II
precincts in the municipality oi
Calatrava on Negros Island. taking
the ballot boxes and keys with
them. The inspectors asserted the
police had kept some voters from
entering the polling places.
Roxas Predicts Victory.
Mr.. Roxas. president of the terri
torial Senate, predicted before he
went into hiding that he would win
by 100000 votes, although he con.
ceded four provinces to Osmena.
Newspapers estimated that more
than 10 per cent of this city's 1O0,-
0O0-plus registrants voted.
| Manila returns were expected tt
be complete by 3 am. tomorrow
q pm. today ESTD, but some
sources estimated it would require
several days to report results from
distant islands of the sprawlins
archipelago. Air courier service ane
radio communications probably cal
finish the task before Saturday
military police headquarters pre-.
dicted. Communications were badly
disrupted by the war.
Mr. Osmena, who made no forma
campaign, said nothing. Head O.
the conservative wing of the Ma.
cionaliSta party-from which Mr.
Roxas bolted-Mr. Osmena earlie
had expressed confidence that hi.
record of 40 years public servic,
would re-elect him.
Platforms Were Similar.
The winner will be in Office whe1
the islands achieve complete in.
dependence from the United State
July 4.
Both Mr.. Roxas and Mr.. Osmen,
pumped for independence, benefl
clal neutrality-suspicious. trade will
the United States and limitles
American investments in the islands
), A third-and perennial-presiden
tial candidate, Hilario Canine Mon
cado, campaigned for dominion
status. He was aided by his show
man vice presidential nominee. Lo,
Salvador, chosen at a gay luncheon
meeting of the Modernist party.
Complete Order Prevails.
| Senator Eulogio Rodriguez, forme
Secretary of Agriculture and forme
Mayor of Manila, was Mr.. Osmena
running mate, and Elpidio Quirinc
former senator and secretary o
} finance, teamed with Mr.. Roxas.
Fine weather piled up the heav,
vote in Manila, but transportatio,
troubles-born of years of war-kep
many from the polls in country dis
!; tricts.
Manila streets were without United
States Army khaki or Navy white
for the first time since the liberatio,
as members of the armed forces wer
kept close to their quarters to avoi,
any charges of interference with tn,
islands first nationwide votinI
since the japanese invasion.