MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said election day for barangay officials on Monday, October 28, was “generally peaceful,” although there was a rise in the number of poll-related deaths during the campaign period.

Except for a few incidents in polling precincts from different parts of the country – 13 recorded since Sunday evening – no major problems had been reported so far, PNP Chief Reuben Sindac said.

“As the polling centers officially closed at 3:00 PM today, all 17 Police Regional Offices across the country reported no serious peace and order concerns in their areas of responsibility,” he said in a statement.

He acknowledged there were “isolated” election-related violence in the past 24 hours, but gave assurances “these where not at all serious as to have a significant effect on the overall peace and order situation on a national scale.”

Sindac said the police are working “full force.” About 3,700 police officials are on standby at the headquarters in Camp Crame, while 8,000 are scattered around Metro Manila alone.

“Police security forces are under specific instructions to remain in their posts to provide security to the election activities until after completion and termination of the proceedings,” Sindac added.

While villages are the smallest government units, they are hotly contested because they serve as the connection for major political parties to cultivate their grassroots network and widen their support base.

On the eve of election day, 6,216 barangays were identified by the police as priority areas. Police are guarding polling booths across the country, while the military was called in for back-up in well-known hotspots, such as the restive regions in Mindanao.

Sindac said in ARMM — where 39.96% of the 2,490 barangays in the region are listed as Priority Areas — 1,649 PNP personnel are performing election duty in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sulu.

Election day violence was also reported in Negros Occidental, where two men were shot dead by a candidate for kagawad. In Digos City, a barangay watchman was gunned down on Sunday.

More killed than in 2010

In its update on Sunday, the police said  

According to Sindac,22 people had been killed in the 4-week run-up to the polls, half of them incumbent politicians running for re-election. The number did not include those reported from Sunday evening to election day itself.

Eleven of the fatalities were incumbent barangay officials.

The number is higher than the 15 recorded in the 2010 barangay elections.

Additionally, 38 politically-motivated incidents were recorded in the past 30 days, including 32 shooting incidents. 34 have been wounded so far with 8 reported missing. 

Among those hurt unclude 3 policemen and an election officer who were ambushed by unidentified gunmen in the province of Masbate on Sunday, a day before polls opened.

Another 622 persons were arrested for violating the gun ban, while 219 reportedly violated the gun ban.

As of 3:27 pm, the PNP said it confiscated 516 firearms, 18 gun replica, 200 bladed weapons, 68 grenades, 290 other explosives, and 4,328 rounds of ammunition. The violators included 21 security guards, 8 policemen, 6 government officials, 6 members of the military and 3 CAFGU. The rest were civilians.

“Police units will continue to enforce election laws particularly the liquor ban that remains in effect until midnight tonight and the election gunban that is enforced until November 12,” Sindac said.

The polling precincts closed at 3 pm, as canvassing of votes are underway in about 170,000 clustered precincts nationwide.

The PNP has also set up national monitoring centers across the country to encourage citizens to report incidents at (02) 721-8613 or 0919-282-1142. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com