PNP validates 14 poll-related incidents

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has validated only 14 election-related incidents nationwide with little more than a week to go before election day on May 9.

The PNP said that out of 104 reported incidents nationwide from Jan. 10 to April 26, 2016, only 14 were election-related, 59 others were not classified as such while 31 were suspected election-related cases.

As for the nature of the incidents, the PNP said these consisted of 69 shootings, 15 strafings, five stabbings, three explosions, two beatings, two threats, two ambushes and one each for abduction and robbery, grenade throwing, abduction and harassment, and strafing with grenade explosion.

According to the PNP, 22 of the cases have been filed in court while 77 remain under investigation.

Meanwhile, the PNP has identified nine election watchlist areas (EWAs). These are Pangasinan, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Abra, Nueva Ecija and Lanao del Norte.

To be included in the EWAs, an area should have a history of intense partisan political rivalry, has past incidents that are politically motivated and election-related, has presence of threat groups such as Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups of politicians and has a proliferation of firearms in a certain town, municipality or city.

The PNP earlier clarified that politically motivated incidents are those committed before the start of the election campaign, while election-related incidents are those that happen during the election period.