THE PHILIPPINES: Leave It to the People

From Y'Ami to Tawitawi, the 1,200-mile-long Philippine archipelago resounded for two months with politicians' haranguing voices, but the nation's No. 1 grassroots campaigner, the man who had most at stake in last week's off-presidential-year election, made only two major speeches. "I want to see if the people will fight my battle for me," said President Ramon Magsaysay.

At stake were nine seats in the Philippine Senate, all elected from the nation at large. But interest centered largely on one man: Senator Claro Recto, power-hungry politician, brilliant trial lawyer and wartime Foreign Minister during the Japanese occupation. For a long time

Claro...

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