100% surge in election violence, says group

MANILA, Philippines - As election draws near, a monitoring group yesterday reported a 100 percent surge in election-related violence that resulted in the death of 52 people nationwide.

Vote Peace 2010 (Vote Peace) said it has recorded a total of 69 election-related violent incidents from the start of the election period last Jan. 10 until the end of April.

From March 25 or a day after the start of the campaign period for local candidates alone, it said there were 35 election-related incidents that claimed the lives of 24 people.

It said those killed and wounded were “directly involved in the electoral campaign,” most of them candidates, their political leaders, workers and supporters, and security aides.