New DILG chief Jonvic Remulla aims 'zero casualty' Eleksyon 2025

Newly installed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla on Wednesday said the government aims to have casualty-free elections in 2025.

Remulla said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. instructed him to work on the safety and security of candidates and the public in the upcoming polls.

"We will enlist the help of all agencies and government to make it as peaceful as possible. Our aim is zero casualties for 2025," Remulla told reporters after the DILG leadership turnover ceremony.

As a local official in Cavite province, Remulla said he gave each mayoral candidate a mobile patrol vehicle to secure them aside from their personal bodyguards.

"In Cavite, when I ran for the last three times, ang ginawa ko roon, each and every candidate for mayor, lagi may kasamang mobile patrol vehicle. Lagi silang separate na hindi nila bodyguard. Binabantayan lang sila," he said.

(In Cavite, when I ran for the last three times, what I did there was that each and every candidate for mayor was always accompanied by a mobile patrol vehicle. They are always separate, aside from their bodyguards. Their focus is to guard each mayoral bet.)

"Maybe we can do the same, but I don't know if mobility is possible," he added.

Possible hotspots

Based on his initial assessments, the areas that may be included as hotspots in the 2025 elections are Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, and Palawan.

"But those are premature, just off-the-cuff assessments. But we will get to a definite list in the next few weeks. Kasi kahapon lang natapos ang filing (The filing of certificate of candidacy ended just yesterday). So we will know more and give a definitive list after that," Remulla said.

Remulla said that authorities are now investigating the shooting incident in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur during the last day of filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday.

Five people were reported injured in the incident, according to a report of GMA Integrated News' 24 Oras. One of the injured is in critical condition.

A series of Facebook livestream videos from the Shariff Aguak Municipal Police showed cops responding to gunshots near the town's municipal hall, as well as people throwing rocks.

The conflict supposedly erupted when supporters thought their candidates were unable to file their COCs.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups will be from Feb. 11 to March 10, 2025, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for House of Representatives and parliamentary, provincial, city and municipal elections will be from March 28 to May 10.

Election day is on May 12, but overseas voters may cast their votes from April 13 to May 12 while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30.

BARMM parliamentary polls will also be conducted in 2025, the Comelec said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News