Election-related violence: 14 killed, so far

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said that 14 people were killed while 22 wounded in 33 election-related violent incidents from January 13 to May 8.

In a press conference at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said 24 persons who also figured in the incidents were unharmed.

He added that 21 of the election-related violence were shooting incidents.

To secure the public on election day on May 13, Banac said the PNP will remain  on full alert status and has deployed 149,330 police personnel nationwide.

The PNP personnel will secure and monitor, among others, the 75,846 voting centers.

Banac said the PNP also deployed 11,413 police officers for quick reaction teams while 34,388 will remain on standby in Camp Crame and other regional centers.

READ: PNP on full alert for polls; raises police deployment to 160,000

A total of 2,838 police officers were also trained by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should they need to serve as members of the electoral boards (EBs),  Banac said.

For the security in canvassing centers, Banac said the PNP has deployed 4,566 personnel while 6,083 will be on election monitoring action centers.

Meanwhile, 1,923 personnel were deployed to secure warehouses or hubs of the Comelec and 13,133 were deployed for crowd disturbance management, Banac added.

Normal police operations, anti-illegal drug operations and checkpoint operations across the country will still continue amid the elections, the PNP official assured.  /gsg