PNP: 1 barangay captain, 3 kagawad killed after BSKE 2023

Three newly proclaimed barangay councilors and one barangay captain have been killed after the conclusion of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said a total of six incidents were reported involving newly-elected officials. These were four shooting, one mauling and one hacking incident.

“Out of the six incidents, ang involved diyan ay newly-elected barangay captains, dalawa, at apat na newly-elected councilors. As to the status of the victims, apat ang patay at dalawa ang injured,” Fajardo said.

(Out of the six incidents, two newly-elected barangay captains and four newly-elected barangay captains were involved. As of the status of the victims, four are dead and two are injured.)

Of the fatalities, the slain barangay captain was reported in Davao, while the three barangay councilors were located in Metro Manila and Bangsamoro.

A total of 19 people were killed and 66 injured due to the incidents of violence, according to police.

The PNP recorded a total of 297 incidents of violence believed to be related to the recent polls held last October 30, 77 of which have been validated as connected to the BSKE.

Most of the incidents confirmed to be BSKE-related were reported in Bangsamoro with 39 cases, Northern Mindanao with 13, and Cordillera with five.

A total of 44 additional incidents are being validated to determine whether these are election-related.

Due to election gun ban violations, 2,175 people were arrested and 1,659 firearms have been confiscated by the PNP.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared the BSKE officially finished on November 1 after the poll body completed the canvassing of ballots in all 42,001 barangays around the country.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) considered the BSKE "orderly and peaceful" apart from violence incidents that affected some communities in the Bangsamoro.

However, the PPCRV, said it observed irregularities, particularly incidents of fake voters casting ballots. 

Ray Sumalipao, Comelec regional director in Bangsamoro, reported that the BSKE "concluded successfully, with no evidence of election failures" in his region.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said winning candidates should assume office during a three-week transition period. —RF, GMA Integrated News