THE just concluded synchronized Barangay (village) and Sanguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections were generally peaceful despite reports of some election-related violent incidents, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said Monday, May 14.

“We still consider the recently concluded barangay and SK election relatively peaceful because majority of the major parts of the country have been peaceful ngayon and kung magkakaroon man ng mga violent incident these are in a few areas only and it did not affect the outcome of the elections,” he said.

By the time voting ended at 3 p.m. Monday, the PNP has recorded a total of 47 suspected election-related violent incidents, up by five from the 42 incidents recorded as of 8:30 a.m. on the same day.

Some 35 individuals have been killed from April 14, the beginning of the election period, to 3 p.m. of May 14.

Seven incidents have been confirmed to be election-related. Bulalacao said the incidents that occurred from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. of May 14 were still being consolidated.

Bulalacao said they received reports of explosion, shooting and other violent incidents in the Autonomous Region in the Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Bulalacao said the “critical hours” of the election period, which started two days ago, continue as counting of votes is ongoing.

He assured that PNP personnel will stay in their posts until the counting of votes is done.

Meanwhile, Bulalacao said the PNP through the conduct of Commission on Election (Comelec) checkpoint, police response and search warrant operations arrested a total of 1,350 persons over alleged vote buying and violation of liquor and gun ban.

He said 1,157 assorted firearms, 7,926 rounds of live ammunition, 79 grenades and 350 explosive devices were confiscated during such operations. (SunStar Philippines)