9 dead, 6 wounded in 2013 poll period – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – At least 9 people were killed and 6 were wounded since this year’s election period kicked off, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Data from the PNP Directorate for Operations showed that since the election period began on January 13, or 4 months before the May 13 polls, 17 cases of election-related incidents were already recorded.

Among these cases is the killing of Infanta, Pangasinan Mayor Ruperto Martinez.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the number of violent incidents was “substantially” lower compared to the previous elections.

No comparative data for the same period was immediately available for 2010. But PNP data showed that during the entire election period for the 2010 polls, 176 election-related incidents were recorded. Among them, 22 were killed and 14 were wounded.

“There is a big difference with the number of election-related cases this 2013 as compared in 2010. But still, one incident is one too many, so we’re still working on lessening the election-related incidents,” Roxas said.

Roxas credited the decrease in the number of election violence to the PNP’s aggressive effort in ensuring a peaceful elections. He said security preparations were made as early as November particularly for the 15 identified election hotspots, namely:

• Abra
• Pangasinan
• Cagayan
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pampanga
• Nueva Ecija
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Masbate
• Samar
• Misamis Occidental
• Maguindanao
• Lanao del Sur
• Basilan

Roxas added there will be massive deployment of policemen and soldiers in these areas. “This massive deployment will seek to prevent violence in areas where there is a history of violence. We want to avoid this,” he said. – with reports from Reynaldo Santos/Rappler.com