Barely a week to go before the elections, a Philippine National Police (PNP) tally has noted an increase in election-related violence, with validated election-related incidents (ERI) doubling in number this month.
In a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Friday, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said of the 104 incidents reported to the police from Jan. 10 to April 26, 14 have already been confirmed to be election-related.
Earlier this month, the PNP reported 65 suspected incidents, with only six of them validated as election-related.
Three of the validated election-related incidents occurred in Region 2, another three in Region 7, two each in Regions 4A and 10, and one each in Regions 3, 5 and 9 and the Cordillera region, Mayor said.
Majority of the reported incidents, or 69 of them, involved shooting, with 15 strafing and five stabbing incidents.
Three of the 104 incidents involved explosions while there were two incidents each of mauling, threats and ambush.
One incident involved abduction and robbery, one abduction and harassment, one with a thrown grenade and one incident with both a strafing and grenade explosion.
Thirty-one reported incidents are still under investigation, while 59 have already been confirmed as nonelection-related, Mayor said.
Even the total number of reported election-related incidents this year is still lower than validated incidents in the last three election years: 109 in 2013, 166 in 2010, and 178 in 2007.
The PNP has determined only nine poll watch list areas this election year: Pangasinan, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Abra, Nueva Ecija, and Lanao del Norte.