MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has so far recorded 42 incidents and 33 casualties in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
This was bared by PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde in press conference held at Camp Crame on Monday.
Of the 42 reported incidents since the start of the election period on April 14, 35 were suspected as election-related incidents (S-ERIs); seven were validated as election related incidents (V-ERIs).
Albayalde also said the 33 persons who were killed in these incidents include 18 elected government officials (EGOs), six civilians, four candidates, three former EGOs and two supporters of poll bets.
Out of the 126 suspects in the said incidents, 29 were identified, 82 were unidentified, six were arrested while nine were released from detention.
Meanwhile, 32 incidents are under investigation; six are under investigation at the prosecutors’ office; three were filed in court and one was dismissed upon filing.
He said that under investigation are the shooting incidents involving Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot in Cebu and former La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel of La Union.
Full alert
Albayalde said that 181,212 personnel assumed election duty as the entire PNP went on nationwide full alert.
“As 36,781 polling centers across the country opened at 7 a.m. today, 73,562 PNP personnel manned their respective posts to provide security to these voting centers,” the PNP chief said.
He said on alert at the Police Regional Officers are 13,267 troops comprising the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) and 2,854 RSSF at the National Headquarters.
The 89,529 personnel comprising the Quick Reaction Teams are also placed on alert on the highest alert condition and readiness to respond to any contingency, he noted.
Albayalde added the deployment of PNP personnel backed by troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines is maximized in 7,857 areas listed in its election watchlist. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
