14 days to E-Day: Patterns of victory and violence

At the national level, the latest survey results show a pattern of victory for Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates in the May senatorial race, while at the local level, events in several areas continue to show a pattern of violence. On Monday, 14 days before election day, pollster Pulse Asia came out with another survey result showing that seven GO bets could become senators. Loren Legarda tightened her grasp of the top spot in the senatorial race. Other opposition bets within the winning circle are: Francis Escudero, Manuel Villar Jr, Panfilo Lacson, Alan Peter Cayetano and . Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III and Aquilino Martin “Koko" Pimentel.? The survey showed that Liberal Party bet Francis Pangilinan and independent candidate Gregorio “Gringo" Honasan would also be victorious. Meanwhile, five Team Unity bets could also become senators. They are: Ralph Recto, Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Vicente “Tito" Sotto. In areas outside Metro Manila, candidates and their campaigners continued to fight tooth and nail, resulting in more injuries and deaths. On Monday, National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon said members of the Soriano family in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, are considered suspects behind Saturday’s deadly shooting incident that claimed the life of incumbent Mayor Julian Resuello and his civilian aide. Resuello, who died Monday morning at the St. Luke's Medical Center due to gunshot wounds, is running for vice mayor in San Carlos under the Lakas party. His son, Julier, the incumbent vice mayor, is campaigning to succeed him as mayor. The lone contender running against Julier is former mayor Douglas Soriano. In Negros Occidental, at least 25 persons — including a former mayor, a police officer, and three women — were arrested after their groups traded stones and gunshots in Pulupandan town last weekend. The violence reportedly started with a sharp exchange of words between supporters of opposing political candidates and parties on Saturday afternoon in Barangay Zone 6. Those arrested included former officer-in-charge mayor Oscar Somis, Bonito Chan, Marty Tumalaytay, Luz Gonato, Lilia Ocquias, Angelina Castillo, Crisinti Flores, Enrique Ramos, Henry Dogohoy, Sylvio Dagohoy, Mario Estares, Jimmy Agocejo, Eduardo Casildo, Rene Locsin, Jason Catuiran, Joffrey Gargarita, Joffrey Yunque, Elmar Rivera, Roger Rodilla, Jerry Garcia, Francisco Libratan, and Leopoldo Ignacio. Police said they were identified as supporters of mayoral candidate Magdaleno Pe. In Basilan, Governor Wahab Akbar sought to disqualify Rep. Gerry Salapuddin from the provincial gubernatorial race. Akbar, who is running for a congressional seat, accused Salapuddin of violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban. Akbar's lawyers are now reportedly studying and gathering more evidence for the filing of the disqualification case against Salapuddin at the local Comelec. Akbar also asked the 1st Marine Brigade under Col. Ramiro Alivio to file charges against some escorts of Salapuddin for carrying guns without Comelec permits. In Pangasinan, Comelec placed under its control San Carlos City after Mayor Julian Resuello succumbed to injuries sustained at an ambush during a local fiesta. Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner made the recommendation, which was approved by the poll body to avert "lawless violence" in the city. Brawner will serve as Comelec commissioner-in-charge of San Carlos. Indicative of this worsening election-related danger in local areas are the police’s scorecards on violent incidents and gun-ban violations. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday that it has recorded a total of 97 election-related incidents since the start of the campaign period for the May elections on January 14. Police records showed that of the total incidents, 31 candidates and political supporters were killed due to intense political rivalries in their respective areas. The same records showed that in a span of three days, or from April 26 to 29, at least 15 of these incidents transpired. Police have also arrested a total of 1,969 violators of the Comelec gun ban and seized a total of 2,304 various weapons. Calderon said they have also filed 707 cases against the offenders, with the other 770 cases still under investigation. - GMANews.TV