Election-related violence more than doubled leading to tomorrow’s barangay elections, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor said 51 cases of poll-related violence had been logged since the campaign period started on September 28.
Twenty-two people had been killed, including eight barangay councilors and three barangay captains. At least 24 people were injured in similar attacks.
Mayor said poll-related violence is higher for this year’s barangay elections compared to 25 cases in 2010, but is half of the 101 cases during the 2007 polls.
The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have deployed more troops in 6,200 “priority areas" across the country.
Starting 8:00 a.m. today, the AFP declared a red alert. The PNP had declared a similar alert two days ago starting 6:00 a.m. With the highest alert levels in place, all leaves of absence are cancelled, with soldiers and the police obliged to report back to duty.
Senior Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, head of the PNP Public Information Office, said, “All systems go ang mga pulis, sa lahat ng lugar, hindi lang sa priority areas.”
He said the priority areas include the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and some parts of Regions 1,5, 7, 8 and 12 where there are reports of intense political rivalry among candidates.
Mayor said the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) gun bank has netted 554 violators, including five policemen, five soldiers, three members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), and five government officials.
The bulk of gun ban violators however were civilians at 516, followed by security guards , 20.
At least 452 assorted firearms, 68 grenades, 289 explosives, and 3,870 assorted live ammunition were confiscated from gun ban violators.
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