19 deaths, 77 violent incidents reported during Oct 30 BSKE

THE PNP yesterday reported 77 validated election-related incidents (ERIs) and 19 deaths during the recently-concluded October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections.

The number of ERIs so far validated is almost double the number of ERIs reported during the last barangay and youth polls held in 2018 when there were only 40 reported violent incidents related to the election during the entire poll period.

This year’s 90-day election period will be until November 29.

Data provided by PNP Public Information Office chief and spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo showed there were 297 suspected ERIs reported to the PNP as of yesterday.

Of the number, 77 were validated to be ERIs while 176 were determined to be not related to the polls. The rest of the 44 are still classified as suspected ERIs as they are still undergoing validation process.

Fajardo said 19 persons died and 66 were injured in the validated ERIs.

She said 39 of the validated ERIs occurred in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 13 in Northern Mindanao, five each in Eastern Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region, four in Bicol, three in the Ilocos region, two in Central Visayas, and one each in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen.

In the implementation of the election gun ban, the PNP said 2,175 violators were arrested and 1,659 assorted firearms were already seized.

The PNP said 2,407 firearms were deposited to the PNP for safekeeping and 1,765 other firearms were surrendered to the police.

Fajardo, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, said four newly-elected barangay officials were killed and two others were injured during attacks in the past several days.

One of the fatalities was from Metro Manila, referring to Marcelina Camacho, a barangay councilor from Pasay City who was shot dead last Monday.

Two councilors were killed in Soccsksargen and a barangay chairman was also killed in the Davao region.

The two injured were a barangay chairman from Calabarzon and a barangay councilor from Northern Mindanao.

Fajardo said the PNP is continuing with its monitoring of post-election activities and