The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported 11 validated election-related incidents since the national and local campaign period started for the 2025 midterm polls.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that they logged 39 suspected election-related incidents of which 11 were validated and five are "classified as a suspected election-related incident".
"As of March 28, we recorded 39 suspected election-related incidents. Out of the 39, 11 are validated election-related incidents, 23 have no connection in the election, and the remaining five have an ongoing investigation and are classified as a suspected election-related incident", Fajardo said.
Fajardo said that out of the 11 validated election-related incidents, five are undergoing preliminary investigation while the other six are undergoing case build-up.
"As to the status of suspects, some remain at large but we have elected (candidates), incumbent (officials), and aspirants involved in these incidents and cases were filed against them" she added.
Meanwhile, Commission on Elections (Comelec) George Erwin Garcia said in a radio interview on Sunday that they recorded 27 election-related incidents since October last year.
"We recorded more or less 27 election-related violence from October up to this day", he said.
The numbers of incidents are lower compared to the 2019 and 2022 elections, Garcia added.
The campaign period for local positions officially began on March 28 and there were no untoward incidents during its kick off, the PNP said.
"We know that the local election level is more heated ... so we will continue to prevent and at least prevent the validated election-related incidents from increasing further", Fajardo said. Marie Manalili/DMS