PNP logs 7 suspected election-related incidents since Jan. 12
Headquarters of the Philippine National Police and its logo. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has logged seven suspected election-related incidents (ERIs) nationwide since the start of the poll period last January 12, according to spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.
In a press briefing on Monday, Fajardo also said that two of the seven suspected ERIs resulted in the death of a municipal councilor supporter in Soccsksargen and a municipal councilor in Ilocos Sur.
READ: Gun ban starts January 12 as election period begins – PNP
“As of today, we monitored suspected election-related incidents. Of the seven, one incident occurred in Region 1 (Ilocos), one in Region 3 (Central Luzon), one in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), and four in Region 6 (Western Visayas,” the PNP official reported.
Other cases involved malicious mischief, vehicular accidents, and defamation.
Fajardo, however, noted that these cases are still up for validation. She explained that the validation is conducted by regional headquarters and takes up to 10 days.
Asked about the two deaths, the PNP official detailed that the suspected ERI in Soccsksargen happened last January 18, where a supporter of a municipal councilor was shot dead in Mindanao.
She added that they are validating reports that this victim filed his certificate of candidacy as municipal councilor last October.
Meanwhile, the ERI recorded in Ilocos Sur involved a municipal councilor in Barangay Tamag in Vigan.
Fajardo explained that a case is considered a suspected ERI if it happened during the election period, from January 12 to June 11, and if the suspect or victim is either a candidate, a close relative of the candidate, a supporter, or a Commission on Elections official.
Last January 12, the PNP imposed a nationwide gun ban, as the election period begins for the upcoming May 2025 polls.
The police force said that its imposition of a gun ban is aimed at ensuring peace and order, as the government believes it could lessen gun-related violence during the upcoming midterm polls.
