Validated election-related incidents now 12 —PNP

The number of validated election-related incidents has increased to 12 ahead of the May 2025 polls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

In an update as of Tuesday, the PNP said 10 of the validated ERIs were "violent" while two were “non-violent.”

The region with the most validated ERIs is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with five cases, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Western Visayas with two each.

One validated ERI was reported each in Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen.

The PNP is still validating a total of three suspected ERIs in BARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the PNP said a total of 2,105 persons have been arrested for the violation of the election gun ban since its start on January 12.

Most of the arrested gun ban violators were reported in Metro Manila with 693, followed by Central Visayas with 287 and Central Visayas with 286.

Among the arrested suspects are the following:

• 16 PNP personnel
• 12 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel
• seven elected government officials
• six personnel from other law enforcement agencies
• four CAFGU Active Auxiliary
• two appointed government officials
• one communist rebel
• 11 foreign nationals
• three children in conflict with the law
• 36 security guards
• 2,007 civilians

A total of 2,198 firearms were seized including 860 revolvers, 615 pistols, 84 gun replicas, 60 explosives, 41 Class A guns, 17 shotguns, 16 rifles, five Class B guns, among others.

Election Day is on May 12, but overseas voters may cast their votes from April 13 to May 12, while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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