THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded five suspected election-related incidents (ERIs) in relation to the upcoming May 2025 national and local elections (NLE).
In a radio interview on Saturday, January 25, 2025, PNP chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) Colonel Randulf Tuaño said the suspected ERIs were recorded in Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and Soccsksargen.
“’Yung tinatawag nating election-related incidents, meron tayong datos na nakuha na ERIs pero hindi pa ito confirmed. Ito ay nanggaling sa Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) meron tayong isa, meron tayo sa Region 6 (Western Visayas) na tatlo at Region 12 na isa. Kasi [kandidato] itong mga taong involved kaya sinasabi na suspected na ERIs,” he said.
(The so-called election-related incidents -- we have data on ERIs, but these are not yet confirmed. These incidents were reported in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) with one case, Region 6 (Western Visayas) with three cases, and Region 12 with one case. Since the people involved are candidates, these incidents are considered suspected ERIs.)
Meanwhile, Tuaño said that amid the implementation of gun ban as part of preventive measures to ensure the maintenance of peace and order for the upcoming NLE, 379 individuals were apprehended, yielding nearly 400 firearms.
The arrested individuals include civilians, security guards, members of law enforcement agencies, and appointed government officials.
They were charged with violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
Comelec Resolution 11067 provides that only those carrying a certificate of authority will be permitted to carry guns outside their residence or places of business during the ban, as granted by its Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns.
The PNP is running Comelec checkpoints to enforce the gun ban during the election period which, according to Comelec Resolution 10999, is from January 12 to June 11.
The 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will be on February 11 until May 10, while local candidates will be allowed to campaign from March 28 to May 10. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)