MANILA (Reuters) — A Philippine religious group has issued ten "commandments" to followers to ensure responsible voting in senate and local elections in May, including the edict: "Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons and gold."The guidelines, devised by lay members of the Catholic Church in 1992, have in the past fallen on deaf ears in the murky world of Philippine politics, where votes are sold for a bag of rice and dozens are killed ahead of polling.

Undeterred, the Philippine Bible Society, the country's biggest supplier of the bible, released on Thursday its ten characteristics of worthy candidates for seats on the senate, the house of representatives and local government posts.

The top requirement, as based on biblical proverbs, is that a political hopeful should be God-fearing.

"We want people to use the power of their votes to lead this country to good governance," Nora Lucero, PBS general secretary told reporters.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, an election watchdog started by Catholic parishioners, also emphasises clean-living, telling devotees: "Thou shalt not vote for candidates living an immoral life".

Deposed president Joseph Estrada topped the polls in 1998 despite a reputation for gambling, carousing and fathering children with several women. He remains hugely popular among poor voters despite being ousted in a coup in 2001.

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country and the church can influence the voting decisions of many of its flock.

But rivalry among political clans, competition for lucrative public seats, a trigger-happy culture, poverty and insurgencies have made Philippine elections stubbornly bloody and corrupt.

Politicians buy votes with cash, food and booze and for millions of desperately poor people the offer of a bag of rice for a favour at the ballot box is too good to refuse.

Nearly 140 people were murdered in election-related violence in the 2004 presidential race and May's poll is expected to be similarly violent because thousands of local government seats — always bitterly fought over — are up for grabs.

Half of the 24-seat Senate and all of the 235-member House of Representatives will also be contested.