‘Guns, goons, gold’ emerge ahead of May 13 polls

The promise of a peaceful and non-violent mid-term elections seem challenged by the persistent flexing of "guns, goons, and gold" across the country.

Recent incidences of election-related violence reported by Cedric Castillo on Friday include the death of a kagawad in the hands of motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calbayog, Samar. BT

Armed individuals also shot the house of the mayor of San Isidro, Leyte, which resulted in the death of a municipal administrator.

Meanwhile, a grenade went off inside a house in La Paz, Abra that belonged to the mother of an aspirant for councilor.

Authorities in Pagbilao, Quezon also busted three individuals who were carrying sample ballots, several bundles of cash and a list of voters.

Operatives were able to arrest one suspect identified as Raymond Cattala who was reportedly carrying an unlicensed firearm with ammunition, but were still looking for one Michelle Glory along with another escaped companion.

Politicians also appear to be targeting potential voters who are travelling to their respective provinces before election day. In the report, some passengers waiting at terminals in Metro Manila admitted they had been offered money for the trip back home.

"Opo. Nangyayari talaga 'yun. Hindi maaalis yung mga may nagbibigay," one voter said.

"Basta pauwi kayo, aabonohan namin 'yung pamasahe niyo, papunta [at] pauwi,"  another voter said, quoting individuals who offered to shoulder his travel expenses. —Margaret Claire Layug/LDF, GMA