THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a total of 35 validated election-related violent incidents (Ervis) since the election period began on January 12, 2025.
Data from the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) showed that a total of 62 violent incidents occurred between January 12 and April 28. Of these, 35 were confirmed to be election-related, seven were still under validation, and 20 were non-election-related.
In the 62 incidents, 13 were killed, 16 were injured while 33 were unharmed.
Of the 35 Ervis, 11 occurred in the Cordillera region, eight in Bangsamoro, five in Calabarzon, three in the Zamboanga Peninsula, two each in Western Visayas and Davao, and one each in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen.
Among the victims in these Ervis, 10 were killed in Ilocos, Central Luzon, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro, and the Cordilleras.
In an interview in Camp Crame on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the number of incidents recorded over the past three months is still lower than those recorded over the past two elections in 2019 and 2022.
Garcia said the peace and order situation in the country has remained manageable, attributing this to ongoing police and military operations on the streets, including the implementation of checkpoints.
The Comelec commissioner said they are still assessing several areas for possible placement under the agency’s control.
Currently, the municipalities of Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte are under Comelec control.
Buluan town was placed under Comelec control following the shooting of Muhammad Utti Omar, also known as "Datu Baba," a candidate for a board member seat in the First District of Maguindanao del Sur, along with his driver, by unidentified suspects in Datu Anggal Midtimbang.
Omar survived the shooting while his driver sustained serious injuries.
In Datu Odin Sinsuat, Lawyer Maceda Abo, an election officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat, and her husband Jojo were gunned down along Cotabato-Sharrif Aguak road in Barangay Makir on March 26. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)