PNP confirms 16 election-related violent incidents so far

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday that it has so far validated 16 election-related violent incidents in the country, a day before the May 9 polls.

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo noted that the latest addition to this number is the shooting incident in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on Saturday morning involving supporters of rival mayoral candidates that has left four people dead and four injured.

Citing reports from the regional director of Police Regional Office 1, Police Brigadier General Westrimundo Obinque, she said that arrests have been made in connection with the shooting incident, and a thorough investigation is underway to identify other persons involved.

“For all intents and purposes, this single incident of apparent election-related violent incidents is an isolated case as the situation in the entire province of Ilocos Sur and the Ilocos-Pangasinan region remains peaceful and orderly,” she said.

All in all, Fajardo said there are 63 recorded incidents from January 9 to May 8. Of this, 41 were classified as non-election related incidents, of which six were suspected election-related.

Aside from this, there were 3,081 individuals arrested and 2,459 firearms confiscated due to the ongoing election gun ban, Fajardo said.

“If we compare ‘yung mga validated election-related incidents to 2016 and 2019 elections, mas mababa itong 16 so far na naitala natin. With respect sa gun ban violators at confiscated firearms, more than 50% ang naibaba don sa mga naaresto natin. This is good indicators, this is good numbers,” she said.

Fajardo pointed out there were 133 election-related violent incidents in 2016, while there were 60 in 2019.

When the election period started on January 9, all kinds of firearms with a license and permit to carry have since then banned outside of the owner’s residence after the imposition of the Commission on Elections gun ban. —LBG, GMA News