PNP: 8 validated poll-related incidents so far

Headquarters of the Philippine National Police and its logo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Five shootings were among the eight election-related incidents (ERIs) that had been validated so far from January 12 to March 2, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Tuesday.

According to the PNP data, three of these incidents took place in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), two in Western Visayas, and one each in Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen.

Five of the incidents involved shootings, one involved the use of an explosive, one involved a mauling, and another involved cyberlibel, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo detailed in a briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

Fajardo said there were 10 victims from these ERIs: a mayoral candidate, an incumbent Sangguniang Barangay (SB) member, two candidates for SB member, while the rest were supporters of candidates and incumbent officials.

She did not say where the victims were based.

READ: PNP: 1 validated poll-related incident, so far

Of the 10 victims, four were killed, another four were injured, and two were unharmed, the PNP spokesperson explained.

About the status of the validated ERIs, two were undergoing case build-up, three were with their respective prosecutors’ offices, and three were referred for filing in court, Fajardo said.

READ: PNP: 1,398 individuals arrested for violating election gun ban

Meanwhile, the PNP data showed there were six incidents still classified as suspected ERIs undergoing validation.

Zamboanga Peninsula and BARMM each have two suspected ERIs, while Davao Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region each have one.

On the other hand, nine were classified as non-election-related incidents: five were in Western Visayas, two in Cagayan Valley, and one each in Central Luzon and Zamboanga Peninsula.