PNP: 31 cases of poll-related violence recorded from Jan. 13 – May 7

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 31 incidents of election-related violence from January 13, 2019 until May 7, 2019.

In a press conference on Wednesday, PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said that of the 31 cases of election-related violence recorded, there were 14 deaths.

“Ang deaths is 14, nadagdagan ng isa from 13 naging 14,” he said.

In a text message, PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said 21 of these cases were shooting incidents while two were mauling incidents, two threats, one assault, one stabbing incident, one slapping incident, one harassment case, one strafing case and one robbery.

Albayalde however said that as compared to figures in 2016 and 2013, the incidents of poll-related violence this year are lower. According to the PNP, there were 106 incidents reported in 2016 and 94 incidents were reported on 2013.

“Remember, this is still lower compared with the 2016 incidents na 106 and 94 in 2013. At yung victims naman dito ay nasa total of 49 which is still lower doon sa more than 192 victims in 2016 and 142 in 2013,” Albayalde said.

According to the PNP, 106 incidents of election-related violence were recorded from Jan. 10, 2016 to May 8, 2016 while 94 incidents were recorded from Jan. 10 to May 12, 2013.

Despite the decrease in the number of election-related incidents of violence, the PNP will still intensify police visibility operations.

“Hindi naman natin sinasabi we are doing good but of course with these incidents we aim to fully implement our police interventions para hindi na po madagdagan itong mga tinatawag election-relation violence,” he said. /muf