By Abigail Mawdsley
BBC Asia-Pacific analyst
**Almost 100,000 police and soldiers are being deployed across the Philippines in an effort to prevent political violence ahead of May’s elections.**They will staff checkpoints aimed at enforcing a total ban on guns and limiting the size of the security escorts necessary for politicians.
Their efforts will be focused on more than 500 areas identified as hotspots.
The killing of 57 people in Maguindanao province in November has highlighted the country’s security problems.
The main suspect, Andal Ampatuan Junior, part of a politically influential clan with ties to President Gloria Arroyo, pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday.
The victims, members of another important political family, had been on their way to register a candidate for local elections.
Guns, goons and gold
Months ahead of May’s national and local polls, the authorities are taking steps to try and cut down election-related violence.
Although campaigning does not begin until February, this weekend marks the beginning of the official election period and heightened security measures will be put in place.
Officials say almost 100,000 police and soldiers - supervised by the election commission - will operate thousands of checkpoints around the country.
They will be charged with upholding a total ban on carrying firearms in public places. Only members of law enforcement agencies and some police-accredited security agencies will be exempt, and then only when in uniform.
More than 100 of the hotspots identified by the authorities lie within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which includes the province of Maguindanao, scene of November’s massacre.
The head of the national police, Jesus A Verzosa, said the goal was to ensure a peaceful and credible election - but this will not be easy.
The Philippines has a long history of political violence. Society is awash with firearms - both licensed and unlicensed - and dominated by rich and powerful families, many with their own private armies.
There is even a well-known local saying that election results depend on which candidates have the most guns, goons and gold.
More than 120 people were killed during the course of legislative and local elections in 2007, when there was a similar ban on firearms. Almost 200 died in 2004’s presidential, legislative and local elections.