Poll violence death toll hits 83

The death toll due to election violence rose to 83 yesterday after some 36.5 millions voters trooped to more than 234,000 polling precincts all over the country for the congressional and local elections.

Police said at least six people were killed on election day alone aside from the irregularities usually reported during elections, like tampered voters’ lists, and unusual incidents, like mortar shelling.

Police said 45 people were killed in the 1998 general elections, 76 in the 1995 congressional and local elections and 49 in the 1992 general elections.

Despite the increased number of killings, however, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) observed that yesterday’s elections were "less violent."

"What we worry about is the election-related violence. The number of injuries are down but the number of deaths are higher now. This is worrisome. That violence is not necessary," said Namfrel secretary-general Guillermo Luz.

Meanwhile, Quezon congressional candidate Lynette Punzalan, the wife of slain Quezon Rep. Marcial Punzalan, described as a "deceptive ploy" the communist New People’s Army (NPA) claim of responsibility for her husband’s killing on Saturday night.

She blamed "the ugly hand of partisan politics... (that) pulled the trigger" that ended her husband’s life.

Punzalan along with his cousin-bodyguard were gunned down as he was shaking hands with the supporters of his wife at Lynette’s miting de avance in Tiaong, Quezon.

Punzalan said her father-in-law was also assassinated and there were also initial efforts to blame the NPA for the 1984 killing.

She demanded the police account for one of those convicted for the killing of the elder Punzalan, whom she suspected of also being involved in Marcial Jr.’s killing.

The younger Punzalan was the highest ranking politician to be killed in this year’s congressional and local elections but there were other more serious incidents of violence all over the country.

The worst incidents occurred in Mindanao where the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was forced to place more areas under its direct control to curb violence and fraud.

The Comelec placed under its direct control an additional three towns each in Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

The military also had to deploy troops in three other towns in Lanao del Norte, two other towns in Sultan Kudarat and 11 other towns in Maguindanao.

Mortar shells were fired allegedly by Muslim separatist guerrillas near the town hall of Matanog, Maguindanao, causing panic that led to a brawl but there were no reported injuries.

The son of mayoralty candidate Kahir Macapeges allegedly struck a teacher-election inspector with a ballot box while Macapeges supporters slugged it out with other personnel.

Witnesses in other areas in central Mindanao also reported that unarmed Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels warned voters of "serious repercussions" if they do not vote for their favored candidates.

But killings and acts of grave intimidation were common all over the country, police and Comelec officials said.

In Indang, Cavite, three unidentified armed men hurled a grenade at the Alulod Elementary School before dawn yesterday.

Cavite police said witnesses could not identify the three men’s vehicle nor did they see any license plate on it but they were seen hurling the grenade at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

Re-electionist Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla and his closest opponent Cavite Rep. Ayong Maliksi immediately accused each other of being behind the grenade explosion.

Revilla said the incident was part of the "synchronized and well-planned" scare tactics being employed by his political opponents.

"They also did that in 1995 and they repeated the same thing in 1998 to scare the people and discourage them from voting," Revilla said.

In Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, mayoral candidate Alejandro Fajardo was allegedly beaten up by a supporter of his relative, Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Pacifico Fajardo.

Alejandro is now in serious condition in a local hospital after Pacifico’s supporter supposedly hit the mayoral candidate with a 2x2 piece of wood.

In Paoay, Ilocos Norte, four supporters of Paoay mayoral candidate Antonio Evangelista were killed in a street gunbattle while five others were seriously wounded.

Police identified the victims as Junjie Concepcion, 23; Anthony Agdeppa, 22; Army Sgt. Donato Pailo and a still unidentified male victim.

In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, three supporters of mayoral candidate Alfredo Marañon were allegedly shot dead by supporters of incumbent Mayor Eduardo Varela.

The victims were identified as barangay captain Romwel dela Cruz, his nephew Edmund and one Rene Libertad, all of whom were declared dead on arrival at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City.

Police identified the Varela supporters as brothers Ruben and Raniel Hollero, who are still at large but have expressed surrender feelers.

In the eastern Mindanao region of Caraga, at least three persons were reportedly killed in separate incidents while the candidate for town mayor escaped an ambush.

Mayoral candidate Maldovico Benegian of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur was ambushed along the national highway late Sunday night. – Reports by Wilfredo Suarez, Ric Sapnu, Ulysses Sabuco, Eva de Leon, Ben Serrano, Vic Alhambra, Antonieta Lopez, Roel Pareño, John Unson, Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Ella Oducayen, Joe Leuterio, Aurora Alambra, Myds Supnad, Edith Regalado