News In Brief

Marcos foes take comfort in low referendum turnout

Philippines election officials said Wednesday final results of last week's constitutional referendum showed 45 percent of voters had turned out, a result seen as a plus for opponents of President Marcos.

After polling closed Friday, the Commission on Elections said 70 percent of the country's 30 million registered voters had taken part.

The opposition had urged a boycott of the referendum as a protest against the Marcos regime.