PNP notes fewer election-related incidents this year

There were fewer validated cases of election-related incidents this year compared to the past three national elections.

For the 2016 election period from Jan. 10 to June 8, the Philippine National Police recorded a total of 310 incidents, 90 of which were confirmed to be election-related.

This was significantly lower than the validated election-related incidents for the national elections of 2007, which had 178 validated cases, 2010 which had 166 cases, and 2013 with 109.

“This is the result of the PNP’s intensified campaign of the gun ban during the election period with the Commission on Elections,” said PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor.

The number of election-related cases went down by 17 percent, based on a comparison of the 2013 and 2016 figures. From 2010 to 2013, election-related cases decreased by 34 percent.

Data from the PNP showed that of the 310 incidents recorded from January 10 to June 8, 90 were validated to be election-related, 115 were unrelated and 105 were suspected to be poll-related.

In the 90 validated election-related incidents, 25 were killed, 27 were wounded and 79 were unharmed.

The PNP said 155 of the recorded incidents were shooting cases, while 29 were explosions and 23 were strafing incidents.

The PNP cited its intensified anti-crime campaign with the military and Comelec, and the information dissemination campaign down to the community level with the media’s help.

“The electorate is becoming more conscious of election laws, and the poll’s quick and peaceful outcome was due to the cooperation between the public and the government,” Mayor said.

Central Luzon recorded the highest number of election-related cases at 18, followed by Northern Mindanao with 17 incidents. Calabarzon came in third with 11 cases, while Cagayan Valley registered 10 incidents.

Western Visayas had the least number of incidents with two cases in Balasan and Calinog in Iloilo.

Of the 310 cases during the election period, 71 have been already referred to the prosecutor’s office or filed in court, while 239 are still being investigated.

Mayor added that they hope to further decrease election-related cases in the future and educate the electorate into becoming more conscious of election laws and violations.