PNP records 42 violent incidents, 33 deaths during election period

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police monitored at least 42 violent incidents during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections period.

The incidents occurred from April 14 to May 14, election day.

The police released the information on Monday morning.

Of the 42 violent incidents, PNP said only seven were validated to have been related to the elections.

The PNP said 33 people were killed in the month-long election period. Most of those killed were elected government officials.

Of the fatalities, 18 were elected government officials, four were candidates, three were former government officials. Two were supporters, and six were classified as "civilian".

On the other hand, a total of 26 people — ten were found to have been political supporters — were wounded in the violent incidents.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the number of violent incidents is lower compared to 2013 elections, when close to 60 incidents were recorded.

The PNP said there are 126 suspects in the violent incidents, 111 of whom are still at large. Six were arrested and then detained while nine of the suspects were released. 

The police force has been on full alert since Sunday evening.

Albayalde deployed 73,562 PNP personnel to secure more than 36,000 polling centers. The Armed Forces of the Philippine also assisted in election watchlist areas.

The village and SK polls had been pushed back from October 2016 to October 2017 and then to May 2018.