PNP reports 12 validated election-related incidents

Checkpoint outposts are being established in anticipation of election-related incidents. DREMA Q. BRAVO

MANILA, Philippines — The number of election-related incidents (ERIs) validated by authorities so far rose to 12 as of April 1.

This was according to data released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday.

The police force previously reported that 11 validated ERIs had been recorded since the start of the election period on January 12.

The new validated ERI was recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), bringing the area’s total to two. But the PNP has yet to disclose the nature of the incident.

The rest of the validated ERIs were five in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); two in Western Visayas; and one each in Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen.

Meanwhile, there were two suspected ERIs in BARMM and one in Zamboanga Peninsula that were yet to be confirmed.

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Further, 24 incidents were classified as non-election-related, one of which was in Zamboanga Peninsula and was being verified.

Western Visayas, Davao Region and the CAR had four ERIs each; Calabarzon, three; Cagayan Valley and Zamboanga Peninsula, two each; and Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas, one each.

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The update on ERIs came days after the start of the local campaign period on Friday, March 28.

The police force previously said it was on heightened alert for the local campaign period as well as the end of the school year and the upcoming Holy Week.