Comelec building
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has validated 27 poll-related violence during the election period, Commission on Elections (Comelec) acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco revealed Thursday.
“Per the report of the Philippine National Police, they had validated around 27 election-related incidents,” he said in a press briefing, noting that the incidents happened between January 9 and May 9, Election Day.
“In-exclude na po nila dito ‘yung ibang incidents that were reported but ultimately were determined and investigated na hindi election-related,” he added.
(They already excluded from this number other reported incidents that were ultimately determined and investigated to be non-election related.)
READ: Comelec checkpoints, gun ban to start on January 9 ’til end of election period
The following is the breakdown of the 27 election-related violence validated by the PNP:
- Ilocos Region – 4 election-related incidents
- Central Luzon – 6 election-related incidents
- Region Central Visayas – 1 election-related incident
- Zamboanga Peninsula – 7 election-related incidents
- Northern Mindanao – 1 election-related incident
- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – 3 election-related incidents
- Cordillera Administrative Region – 5 election-related incidents
The number of election-related violence for the May polls is lower compared to 2016’s 133 and 2019’s 60 validated incidents, according to the PNP.
READ: Fewer election-related violence so far
Election gun ban
Meanwhile, around 10,000 firearms and other deadly weapons were confiscated by the police force amid the prevailing poll gun ban from January 9 to June 8.
“As of the latest report of the PNP, they were already able to get, collect — kasi sama-sama po (because these are lumped together) — surrendered firearms, confiscated firearms, and other deadly weapons,” said Laudiangco.
“‘Pag pinagsama-sama niyo po sila, umaabot na po sa 10,381 ang nakokolekta ng PNP in so far as gun ban violations are concerned,” he continued.
(When you put it together, PNP has collected 10,381 firearms so far as gun ban violations are concerned.)
The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier noted that the May 9 national and local elections are “generally peaceful.”
READ: AFP, PNP deem conduct of May 9 polls ‘good’, ‘generally peaceful’