MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police on Monday said that the conduct of the barangay elections has been proceeding smoothly , so far.
PNP Deputy Director for Operations chief Felipe Rojas Jr. said that the number of election-related incidents is the same but the quality is different as compared to the October barangay polls in 2010.
"Basically yung number ay the same pero ang quality ay mas bloodier last barangay elections," Rojas said on the sidelines of the Secure and Fair Elections 2013 Alpha media briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Rojas, the National Task Force SAFE commander, said that in the last 24 hours before the polling precincts for the barangay polls opened, the PNP also recorded 38 election-related incidents, in which 22 were killed, 34 were hurt, nine were unharmed and eight were missing.
He said that most of these incidents were from Mindanao, including the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
"As compared to the previous barangay elections, we're still on track. We hope to maintain this situation before the closing of polling precincts this afternoon," Rojas said.