THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has declared the May 12, 2025, National and Local Elections (NLE) in the region as generally peaceful, with only two major incidents reported in Davao Occidental and Davao del Norte.
In a phone interview with SunStar Davao, PRO-Davao spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed that the entire Davao Region remained calm throughout the election period.
“So far, the election has been peaceful, but we will continue to monitor the situation,” Dela Rey said.
One of the incidents occurred in Davao Occidental, where a 15-year-old boy was injured by a stray bullet. According to Police Captain Joselito Cortes, spokesperson of the Davao Occidental Provincial Police Office, the boy was hit in the shoulder by a bullet while inside his home at dawn on election day. The shot reportedly came from a riding-in-tandem suspect who fired indiscriminately along the roadside.
The victim sustained a bone fracture and is currently in stable condition at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.
Meanwhile, in Purok 19, Barangay Mesaoy, New Corella, Davao del Norte, a shooting incident was also reported. Local police responded to a call from a concerned citizen and found four men involved in an armed confrontation. Two of the individuals were injured and rushed to the hospital, while the other two were taken into custody.
Initial reports indicate the altercation began as a verbal dispute before escalating into a gunfight. An in-depth investigation is underway under the supervision of the Chief of Police, and appropriate charges are expected to be filed.
Following the incident, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Election Director Atty. Michael C. Abas recommended classifying Barangay Mesaoy as an “area of concern.” Its security status would be raised from Green to Yellow, citing threats of politically motivated violence and the presence of armed individuals.
Comelec-Davao Assistant Regional Director Atty. Gay Enumerables clarified that as of 2:30 p.m. on May 12, the classification remains a recommendation and has not yet been officially declared.
Meanwhile, election watchdogs have raised concerns over violence and irregularities in other parts of the country.
In Basilan, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) pulled out its volunteers from a polling center in Barangay Langil due to security threats following an altercation on the eve of the elections. Despite this, PPCRV spokesperson Ana De Villa Singson said the group continued its monitoring operations in other areas of the province. The organization also reported isolated technical issues with some vote-counting machines.
The International Observer Mission (IOM) voiced alarm over increasing reports of election-related misconduct. Commissioner Colleen Moore cited growing concerns over vote-buying, red-tagging, and violence, which she said are undermining public trust in the electoral process.
The IOM verified 18 vote-buying incidents, on top of 158 formal complaints already filed with the Commission on Elections. These transactions reportedly involved cash or goods ranging from P150 to P5,000 and were most prevalent in politically dominated rural areas.
In collaboration with Vote Report PH, the IOM documented 577 red-tagging incidents targeting candidates, campaign teams, local organizers, and even Comelec personnel.
As post-election assessments continue, both local and international observers are calling for stronger enforcement, greater transparency, and better protection for everyone involved in the election process. DEF