PNP: More cops deployed in Abra amid withdrawal of candidates due to threats

A total of 352 more police officers were deployed to Abra after several candidates backed out from the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) due to threats, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

In a press briefing, PNP Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the PNP was investigating the withdrawal of over 250 candidates in the province.

“There are some reports that these withdrawals of candidates ay result ng threats and intimidation. So ongoing ang investigation natin diyan kung ano talaga ang nasa likod diyan,” he said.

(There are some reports that these candidate withdrawals were a result of threats and intimidation. So, our investigation is ongoing to determine the reason behind this.)

“Nevertheless, we have beefed up our forces there, a total of 352,” he added.

To avoid possible bias in the imposition of peace and order measures in Abra, the additional deployments came from police units outside the province.

On October 18, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it received a report that a candidate for the BSKE in Bucay, Abra was shot dead.

Comelec Chairperson Erwin Garcia said the victim was running for barangay councilor and that they received the information from their local office in Abra.

Garcia said the poll body received reports of election-related problems in Abra, particularly in Bucay.

"Talagang umaayaw. Kung tinatakot o hindi, wala po kasing ebidensiya so far. And therefore, nakikipag-coordinate tayo sa DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) at saka sa Philippine National Police," he said.

(They just withdrew. Whether or not from fear, we have no evidence so far. Therefore, we are coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police.)

Aside from candidates, several teachers also backed out from serving as Electoral Board members.

However, Garcia noted that these withdrawals were not due to threats but due to these teachers being related to some candidates.