MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed 47 election-related incidents (ERIs) in connection with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) that recently took place.
According to Philippines News Agency, Public Information Office Chief and spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, from August 28 to November 2, out of 264 incidents recorded, 47 have been validated as directly related to the elections. In addition to these confirmed incidents, 114 are suspected to be related to the electoral process, while 103 are considered unrelated.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon forum, Fajardo reported that the validated incidents had led to 15 fatalities and 43 injuries. The violence on election day alone accounted for six deaths.
The breakdown of the 47 validated ERIs is as follows: 16 occurred in the Bangsamoro region, 13 in Northern Mindanao, five in the Cordillera Administrative Region, three each in the Ilocos and Eastern Visayas regions, two each in the Bicol and Central Visayas regions, and one each in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The majority of these incidents involved shootings, mauling, and other forms of physical injury.
Furthermore, amidst the enforcement of a gun ban during the BSKE period, the PNP arrested 2,077 individuals, confiscated 1,569 firearms, and took custody of 2,360 firearms deposited for safekeeping. Additionally, 1,707 firearms were voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.
Colonel Fajardo emphasized that the PNP's security efforts will persist until the official winners of the election are announced.