Thirty-three elected officials were killed in election-related incidents from January 13 to May 13, almost twice as many as the 17 killed in an equivalent period (Jan. 10 to May 10) in 2010, records provided by the PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM) showed.

This year’s running tally has also surpassed the 21 elected officials who were killed in election-related incidents in an equivalent period (Jan. 14 to May 14) in 2007.

It is also higher than the 20 elected officials killed during the whole 2010 election period (Jan. 10 to June 9) and the 26 officials slain during the entire poll season of 2007 (Jan. 10 to June 9).

The 33 officials who were slain are among 52 people killed in 90 incidents that occurred in this year’s election period. The others are comprised of 14 supporters of candidates, two soldiers, a policeman, and a non-elected official.

Interestingly, the number of persons slain this year is now almost equal to the 54 who were killed during the whole election period of 2010, despite fewer incidents. A total of 176 incidents were recorded three years ago.

Asked on the seemingly higher percentage of deaths, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima said in a press briefing that some of this year’s attacks were aimed at groups of people.

“‘Yung opportunity na maging biktima ay malaki dahil magkakasama-sama sila, unlike before when there were targeted personalities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Purisima said the PNP will continue monitoring incidents and remain vigilant as there is an “expected mounting of actions of losing candidates.”

The PNP will continue enforcing the election gun ban and its house-to-house checks for firearms with expired licenses until June 12, he added. (John Roson)

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Of those arrested, 83 have been charged in court while 11 are still undergoing investigation, Senior Supt. Valeriano de Leon, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations’ statistics and reports division, said in a briefing.

Fifty-nine incidents of vote buying were recorded in the entire country from Jan. 13 to May 13, but only 46 of these have been confirmed so far, De Leon said.

Of the confirmed incidents, eight occurred in the Zamboanga Peninsula, followed by seven in Ilocos region, five in Caraga, four each in Bicol, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, three each in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas, two in Cagayan Valley, and one each in Mimaropa, Northern Mindanao, and Central Mindanao, according to records presented by De Leon.

In Central Luzon, three persons were arrested and charged for two vote buying incidents that involved P505,700.

A total of 13 alleged incidents of vote buying were also reported in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Mindanao, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Eleven people were arrested and are still undergoing investigation for these incidents.

Despite the arrests, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima said the police still need to brush up on its campaign against vote buying.

“We need to review our elements of vote buying.. If there is a vague interpretation there, all cases will be dismissed,” Purisima said. (John Roson)

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Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra was relieved from his post as provincial director while members of the ARMM Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) replaced all policemen in Banguingui, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“Ang nangyayari ngayon sa Banguingui, hanggang ngayon nagpuputukan pa, we now have a company of RPSB who replaced the local police. The PD of Suluwas relieved because hindi na niya ma-control ang mga tao, we need people to control the situation,” Purisima said.

Senior Supt. Robert Kuinisala, who currently serves as deputy director for administration of the ARMM regional police, has been tasked to lead the Sulu provincial police, the PNP chief said.

Sought for more details, Kuinisala said the fighting in Bangungui, formerly known as Tongkil, started on election day between supporters of mayoralty candidate Whajid Sahidulla and a rival candidate.

“So far may reported na tatlong patay, tapos apat na wounded. Nung eleksyon nangyari pero yung succeeding skirmishes, di namin ma-determine kung may sugatan, di ka makalapit dun sa nagpupukpukan eh,” Kuinisala said.

“Nagpuputukan sila sa barangay, sa mga sitio-sitio kung saan sila magkita-kita, ‘yun ang sitwasyon, so kailangang ibalik namin ang normalcy,” he said.

Kuinisala said Senior Supt. Abraham Orbita will be installed as the provincial police director once he and his men have restored peace in Bangungui. (John Roson)

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Fifty-two people were killed while 73 were injured in 90 election-related incidents from January 13 to May 13, records provided by the PNP Department of Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM) showed.

Fifty-four people died and 78 were injured in 176 incidents that occurred during the entire election period in 2010, which ran from January 10 to June 9, according to the DIDM.

This year’s election period started on January 13 and will end on June 13.

Meanwhile, DIDM records also showed that the number of politicians killed this year is now higher than that of 2010.

Thirty-three elected government officials were killed this year, higher than the 20 politicians killed three years ago. (John Roson)

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Abas Minsu, the Dep-Ed’s district supervisor for the town, and Teng Mangindra, principal of the Bai Tumbabay Elementary School, were brought to a hospital in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, due to injuries, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. while Minsu and Mangindra were riding a motorcycle at the boundary of Brgys. Ramcor and Bagundang.

Minsu and Mangindra were heading towards Brgy. Ramcor when one of two men on another motorcycle shot them with a caliber-.45 pistol, Hermoso said.

Local police are still trying to determine the assailants’ identities and motive, he said. (John Roson)

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Kiang Nasser, a nephew of South Upi mayoralty candidate Mohammad Digo “Datu Baba” Omar Jr., was killed when the latter’s convoy was ambushed along in Km 30 of the road in North Upi, Maguindanao, around 5:30 p.m., Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

Omar’s uncle, Turno Omar, was injured and brought to the Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital.

Omar, a candidate of PDP-Laban, is one of seven people running for mayor of South Upi. Another candidate is incumbent Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, who is running under the Liberal Party.

Around 11:50 p.m. the same day, three supporters of Floro Allado, a vice mayoralty candidate in Banisilan, North Cotabato, were injured when armed men ambushed his convoy in Brgy. Wadya.

Allado and his supporters were on their way home from campaigning in Brgy. Gastav, on board his Ford Everest and commando-type owner jeep, when they were fired upon, Hermoso said.

The candidate was not hit, but three of his supporters were wounded and brought to the Wao Hospital in Wao, Lanao del Sur, according to the military official.

Allado is one of four people running for vice mayor in Banisilan. (John Roson)

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Photo courtesy of Quezon Police Provincial Office

Passengers Natividad Breva, 51; Federico Ebiernas, 44; Letecia Ebiernas, 43; Jackielyn Casabon, 29; Krizel Pera, 14; Glicel Casabon, 9; Daniela Olanda, 9; and Kathleen Casabon, 7, died on the spot while their driver Redentor Olanda, 37, was declared dead at the St. Peter Hospital, Quezon provincial police spokesman Chief Insp. Ediclle Canals said.

The incident occurred around 7:25 a.m., while Olanda was driving the tricycle along the highway’s portion in Brgy. Biyan.

The tricycle was heading towards Calauag town proper when it was hit by the Arandia Bus Line unit (EVN-970) being driven by Albert Oli from Manila to Bicol, Canals said.

The bus dragged the tricycle some 56 meters from the point of impact, he said.

Investigation showed that Oli overtook another bus by using the opposite lane, causing his bus to collide head on with Olanda’s tricycle.

Oli’s bus suffered heavy damage due to the strong impact, while the tricycle was totally wrecked, Canals said.

The fatalities’ bodies have been brought to a local funeral parlor while Oli is now detained at the Calauag Police Station.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property are now being prepared against the bus driver, Canals said. (John Roson)

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Melinda Jennifer Glifonea, of 103.1 FM Edge Radio, was abducted shortly before 4 a.m., while she was eating at the Lugawan ng Masa restaurant along Argao st., Brgy. Poblacion, Chief Insp. Edcille Canals, Quezon provincial police spokesman, said.

Two men wearing bull caps and had their faces covered with handkerchiefs arrived at the restaurant on a silver Toyota Innova, drew short firearms, and declared a heist, Canals said.

The gunmen ordered everyone inside the restaurant to lie on the floor, forcibly took Glifonea to their vehicle, then fled towards the direction of Brgy. Pahinga Norte and the Candelaria Bypass road, he said.

The incident was captured on the establishment’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

The abductors’ vehicle had its registration plate covered, but its conduction sticker 7858 was seen, Canals said.

Members of the Candelaria Police are still tracking down the abductors and the victim as of this writing. (John Roson)

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Senior Supt. Atanacio Macalan, Palawan provincial police director, said mayoralty candidate Muslinin Abdurajik’s supporters were passing through Brgy. Igang Igang on a Toyota Revo around 11:47 p.m. when they were fired upon by several armed men.

The armed men are supporters of incumbent Mayor Abraham Ibba’s wife, Katrina, who is also running for mayor, Macalan said in a phone interview.

A still unidentified male died on the spot while a girl, estimated to be 14 to 16 years old, was found dead inside a nearby house after the attack, he said.

”Yung na-ambush ay nasa sasakyan, nakasakay sila sa Revo… di pa matiyak kung saan papunta. Siguro ‘yung babae nahagip ‘yun sa crossfire, kasi sa loob ng bahay namatay,” Macalan said.

Six persons were injured and have been brought to a local hospital, but one of them reportedly expired Saturday morning, the police official said.

“Mayroon pang reported na nawawala na tatlo, baka ‘yung pasaheros nung Revo pati ‘yung driver, na siguro nakatakas nung nagbabakbakan, o binabakbakan sila, at grabe yung sugat nila, kaya hindi pa narerecover,” Macalan said.

Six persons believed to be among those who carried out the ambush were arrested when members of the Bataraza Police and Marine troopers launched pursuit operations, he added.

Abdurajik is running for mayor of Bataraza under the Nationalist People’s Coalition against incumbent Mayor Ibba’s wife, Katrina, who is running under the National Unity Party, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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Coast Guard commandant Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena said the shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, while a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel (MCS 3001) operated by PCG personnel was patrolling the Balintang Channel off Batanes.

The PCG personnel encountered four foreign fishing vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and tried to board one of them, but another “repeatedly tried to ram our MCS,” Isorena said in a statement.

He said this prompted the Coast Guard personnel on board the MCS to fire “warning shots” and later on, shoot the vessel’s machinery portion “to disable” it.

“While the maneuver is happening, our MCS detected the presence of unidentified grey and white ships, forcing them to withdraw and return back to port,” Isorena said.

He said the personnel on board the MCS were not able to immediately verify what happened to the fishing vessel, and the PCG only learned Friday that one of the Taiwanese fishermen died.

Isorena said that while the PCG considers the incident as “very unfortunate,” more effort will be done to secure the country’s waters.

“Efforts will be instituted to prevent similar occurrences. The government will increase our visibility in the area to prevent future incursion of our waters,” the PCG chief said.

“We sympathize with the family of the fisherman who died and we assure them of a transparent and impartial investigation. The PCG will relieve all personnel on board MCS 3001 of their duties while the investigation is ongoing,” he added.

Earlier, China’s state-owned Xinhua News Agency earlier reported that a Filipino “military ship” opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing boat on Thursday, about 180 nautical miles southeast of Erluanbi, the southernmost tip of Taiwan.

“After killing the fisherman, the Filipino military ship continued to chase and fire in bursts at the Taiwanese vessel,” Xinhua said, citing information from Taiwan’s fishing authority and media.

Maj. Ramon Zagala, chief of the Armed Forces’ public affairs office, said that contrary to the report, the incident involved a “Coast Guard-controlled” BFAR vessel.

Zagala, however, said the incident occurred within the Philippines’ “territorial waters.”

“Since the incident occurred within our territorial waters, it is therefore within the jurisdiction of our coast guard,” Zagala said in a statement.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, the Navy’s spokesman for issues in the West Philippine Sea, also denied Xinhua’s report.

Commodore Nodolfo Tejada, commander of the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, reported Thursday night that all Navy vessels under his command were in ports in Subic or Sual, Pangasinan, Arevalo said. (John Roson)

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