120 election-related violence cases logged in 2024; 12 validated – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded over a hundred election-related incidents of violence in 2024, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia.

Based on the initial report from the PNP, Garcia said there were 120 suspected election-related violence last year, but only 12 were validated.

READ: PNP monitoring 3 active private armed groups ahead of May polls

“Kung may nakikita at namomonitor ang security forces, especially ang PNP, hindi ganun kataas ang ERIs (election-related incidents),” the Comelec official said.

(As security forces, especially the PNP, have observed and monitored, ERIs are not that high.)

“In fact, ma-ve-verify niyo nyan sa PNP sa kanilang 120 more or less na tinitingnan na insidente nitong nakaraang after the filing of candidacy, at least ‘yung one year before the election, 12 lang doon ‘yung ERI,” he added.

(In fact, you can verify this with the PNP. Of the 120 or so incidents they have been monitoring since after the filing of candidacy, or at least one year before the election, only 12 are classified ERIs.)

Garcia, however, emphasized the need to clarify the definition of ERIs and determine whether a particular case or crime fits into this category

“Halimbawa, na-holdap ‘yung barangay chairman o kaya biglang pinasok ‘yung bahay ni mayor — ERI na ba ‘yun? So kinailangan madefine natin. Minsan sinasabi natin suspected pa lang ‘yun, pero just the same, para lang tama ‘yung reporting natin,” he said.

(For example, if a barangay chairman was held up or if a mayor’s house was suddenly broken into—does that qualify as an ERI? So we need to define it. Sometimes we say it’s just suspected, but even so, it’s important for our reporting to be accurate.)

READ: Comelec names 38 places as areas under serious threats in 2025 elections