PNP: 23 election-related violence incidents reported

A total of 23 incidents of violence related to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) have been reported so far, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

The PNP said 129 incidents were initially reported but only 23 have been confirmed to be connected with the polls while 77 were unrelated to the elections.

The remaining 29 incidents are still being validated if they are connected with the BSKE.

Of the 23 validated election-related incidents of violence, the PNP said most of them were reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with five cases.

This was followed by Cordillera Administrative Region with four cases, then Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao with three cases each.

Recently in Sigayan, Lanao del Sur, a candidate for barangay captain, his wife, and his seven-year-old child were killed after his political rival allegedly fired shots at their vehicle. The suspect fled after the incident.

As of Wednesday, the PNP said 1,841 persons have been arrested and 1,393 firearms have been confiscated due to election gun ban violations.

The PNP will be on full alert status starting Friday for the conduct of the BSKE on Monday as well as the observance of Undas in the following days, according to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo.

Over 5,000 cops are on standby as possible poll workers in case some teachers withdraw as electoral board members, according to the PNP.—AOL, GMA Integrated News