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Comelec sees 'spike' in election-related violence in Maguindanao, Cotabato
Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia said Wednesday that the poll body has monitored an uptick in the cases of election-related violence in Maguindanao and Cotabato City ahead of Eleksyon 2025.
“Sa [In] Maguindanao and Cotabato City,” Garcia told Kapihan sa Manila Bay when asked on the areas where a spike of cases of election-related violence were reported.
According to Garcia, several crime incidents related to the upcoming polls were reported in some areas in the country starting February 11, a day before the 90-day campaign period for national candidates on February 12. However, he said this year’s election-related violence cases remain the lowest since 2013.
“Ang 2025 so far ang pinakamababa pa simula 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022. Mababa pa ito. Ang sinasabi ko lang na pag-spike ‘yung pagpasok ng February 11, biglang may krimen tapos ang biktima kalimitan politiko,” said Garcia.
(The data this year remains the lowest since 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. We’re seeing a spike because we received reports starting February 11 and most of the victims are politicians.)
“Ang dapat nating tinitingnan ay sa buong bansa. Hindi pong ganun ang pagtaas, dun lang sa bandang area ng Bangsamoro, napansin natin na may pagtaas,” he added.
Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama, who is seeking reelection in the May 2025 elections, was hurt after he was shot while giving a speech, according to a report by Sandra Aguinaldo on State of the Nation on Monday. Samama was brought to the hospital for treatment and is now recuperating.
This is one of the election-related violence in the country so far, according to Garcia. He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has completed its initial investigation of the case and is eyeing possible suspects behind the shooting incident.
“Wala pong duda, election-related violence yan,” he added.
(No doubt, it is election-related violence.)
Red category
Meanwhile, Garcia reiterated that more areas may be placed under the “red” category of areas of concern as Election Day approaches.
“May mga napansin tayo na nasa orange category areas na bigla nagkaroon ng spike of violence. Hindi naman mataas kaya lang mukhang kinakailangan yung aming security forces mas damihan namin sa areas na yan,” Garcia added.
(We noticed a spike of violence in some areas under the orange category. It wasn’t a significant increase but we may need to deploy additional security forces in the area.)
In January, the Comelec placed at least 38 areas of concern under the “red” category ahead of the 2025 national and local elections. Among them is the Datu Piang town.
Comelec Resolution No. 11067 states that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) classify all areas in the country under four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.
Areas under the green category are areas with no security concerns or is relatively peaceful and orderly for the conduct of elections.
Yellow areas have reported suspected election-related incidents in the past two polls, provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups. These areas should also have been previously declared under Comelec control and reported to have the possible presence of armed groups, and intense political rivalries.
Orange areas should have the combination of two or more factors under the yellow category; and should have serious armed threats posed by communist terror groups (CTGs) or other threat groups.
Meanwhile, red areas meet the parameters for areas under the yellow category and have serious threats posed by CTGs or other threat groups. Security forces will focus on monitoring these areas with the possibility for violence and intense political fights among local candidates. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
