CENTRAL Visayas has had no confirmed violent incidents related to the elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) 7 Director Francisco Pobe said on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Pobe told SunStar that most incidents so far have involved personal or ordinary crimes unrelated to the elections.
His statement came after the killing of a barangay coordinator for a local mayoral candidate in Barangay Candiis, Badian last April 28. His companion was also injured.
Earlier, during the Kapihan sa PIA forum, Pobe explained that all incidents during the election period are initially tagged as election-related but require validation.
He said that because of the victim’s political affiliation, the incident would be initially classified as election-related, pending investigation.
“For assessment and accounting purposes, we initially classify the incident as election-related, but it remains subject to validation and assessment on what is the truth behind the incident,” Pobe said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 35 validated election-related violent incidents (ERVIs) nationwide since the start of the election period on January 12, 2025.
Data from the PNP-Public Information Office, released on April 28, showed that 62 violent incidents occurred from Jan. 12 to date. Seven incidents are still under validation, and 20 were deemed unrelated to the elections.
The 62 incidents resulted in 13 deaths, 16 injuries and 33 individuals unharmed.
Of the 35 validated ERVIs, 11 occurred in the Cordillera region, eight in Bangsamoro, five in Calabarzon, three in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), two each in Region 6 (Western Visayas) and Region 11 (Davao), and one each in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
Ten people were killed in ERVIs in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro and Cordillera. / DPC, TPM