44 killed in poll violence – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – With only 4 days to go before the mid-term polls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a total of 66 election-related violent incidents involving 107 victims. At least 44 were killed while the rest were either wounded or unharmed.

In a briefing on Thursday, May 9, PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management Deputy Director Chief Supt. Jose Jorge E. Corpuz said that from January 13 to May 8, the PNP has received reports on 66 violent incidents, which include 58 shooting incidents, one explosion and one ambush.

Based on government data, the PNP recorded 176 incidents in the 2010 presidential elections. At least 51 candidates and civilians were killed.

PNP data showed that the most number of shooting incidents this year, around 8, were recorded in Region 9 — Western Mindanao — followed by Region 4A — Southern Tagalog — with 7 incidents. 

Corpuz added that no casualties were reported in the two recent grenade throwing incidents in Iloilo and San Andres Manila.  

Arrests and confiscated firearms

The PNP also disclosed that it has arrested more than 3,000 individuals in Commission on Election (Comelec) checkpoints nationwide. 

In the same briefing, PNP Director for Operations Dir. Alex Paul Monteagudo said the PNP arrested 3,049 for violating the Comelec gun ban between January 13 to May 7. The bulk of those arrested were 2,809 civilians followed by 130 security guards.

Some 2,972 firearms were confiscated from them. Most of these firearms included over 1,000 revolvers and 950 pistols. 

These represented an increase of 120 individuals and 95 firearms from the May 4 report, which stated that some 2,929 violators were arrested and 2,877 firearms were confiscated. – Rappler.com

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