Gunmen killed a policeman during a theft of ballot boxes and suspected communist rebels abducted a mayoral candidate as officials counted votes from Philippines Senate elections.
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Candidates who favour Mrs Arroyo over jailed former President Estrada have taken an early if lead, according to preliminary results.
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The campaign has been regarded as a battle between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her ousted predecessor Mr Joseph Estrada.
The attack by men spraying automatic weapons fire brought the total number of political killings to 68 since campaigning began in January for a Senate race still up for grabs.
The gunmen, who were not immediately identified, made off with completed ballots from two precincts in Santa Ana city in the extreme north of the country.
Candidates who favour Mrs Arroyo over jailed former President Estrada have taken an early if flimsy lead, according to preliminary results.
Elsewhere police superintendent Mr Rojillo Montijo said suspected communist rebels of the New People's Army (NPA) abducted Mayor Zemaida Doria. Scattered violence, missing ballot boxes and incomplete voter lists plagued parts of the country throughout voting during the elections.
Voting resumes today in Caloocan city, north of Manila, where officials ran out of ballots on yesterday.
Conclusive elections results will not be known for days but rival camps insisted they did well in the crucial race for 13 of the 24 Senate seats being filled in the elections held just four months after Mr Estrada fled the presidential palace amid massive street protests.
PA