‘Election-related’ deaths jump to 33 – Albayalde

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde briefs media on election-related violence on May 14, 2018. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / JAM STA ROSA

Thirty-three people were killed while 26 were wounded in suspected election-related violent incidents since the start of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election period, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde said Monday.

Albayalde said the casualties resulted from 42 incidents, seven of which were validated as election-related.

Of those killed, 18 were incumbent government officials, four were candidates, three were former government officials, two were supporters, and six were civilians.

The figure is as of 6 a.m. as tallied by the National Election Monitoring and Action Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Albayalde said the figures included the killing of former La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel and his two aides, as well as the attempted assassination of Daanbantayan, Cebu, Mayor Vicente Loot and his driver, who were both injured in the attack.

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Of the total cases, 33 were shooting incidents, followed by kidnapping at two, strafing, arson, harassment, illegal detention, ambush, grave threats, and grenade throwing at one each.

The attacks, Albayalde said, were carried out by 126 suspects — 111 of which are at-large, six are detained, and nine were released. /cbb

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