The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported “no serious peace and order concerns in their areas of responsibility” during yesterday’s barangay elections.
Despite this, the PNP confirmed several incidents during election day. According to the PNP, such incidents in no way affected the the overall peace and order in the conduct of yesterday’s elections.
From September 28, the PNP’s election task force recorded a total of 38 politically motivated incidents. The incidents resulted to 22 dead, 34 wounded, and eight missing.
As of today, 655 individuals were arrested for violating the election gun ban. From the figure, 609 were civilians, 22 security guards, eight PNP personnel, six AFP personnel, six government officials, three CAFGU militiamen and one from a law enforcement agency. The election gun ban is in effect until November 12, 2013.
Meanwhile, the PNP arrested at least 219 individuals for violating the two-day liquor ban.
Earlier, the PNP identified 6,904 barangays as election ‘Areas of Concern’ and 156 other barangays as “election areas of immediate concern.” The PNP has tightened security in those areas.
The PNP is still on high alert until the end of election period on November 12.
No Polls in 94 Barangays, Mostly in ARMM
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) identified 94 barangays that did not conduct elections after assigned public school teachers refused to serve their function as Board of Election Tellers (BET). A dozen of the barangays failed to do so because of bad weather while 66 of the 94 barangays were from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Of the 66 barangays, 51 are in Lanao del Sur, three in Maguindanao, six in Basilan, and two in Tawi-Tawi.
In the ARMM, more than 1,600 PNP personnel were trained and served as members of Special Board of Election Tellers (SBET) in yesterday’s elections. Around 995 or 39.96% of the 2,490 barangays in ARMM were identified as areas of concern. Reports indicate that election incidents occurred in the region.
COMELEC reiterated that there is no failure of elections in the 94 barangays and that the voting is moved to another day. PNP personnel will function as BET if the teachers still refuse to serve in the election process. Concerns in security are said to be the main reason why the teachers refused to serve as BETs.
