PNP, Comelec urged to do more vs poll-related violence

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has expressed alarm over the increasing number of election-related violence in the country, where perpetrators have obviously challenged the capability of the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure peaceful elections.

“Clearly, more needs to be done to curb electoral violence in the country. We urge the PNP and the Comelec to do all they can to arrest those who, in trying to win at all costs, have murder on their minds,” he said.

"We have yet to hear of an election-related violence case that was investigated and that has led to the conviction of the perpetrators and masterminds,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan recalled the brazen act of razing a school building in Taysan, Batangas during the 2007 elections. The incident left two innocent individuals killed and several others injured.

While it is clear that the case was election-related, Pangilinan noted that no mastermind was pinpointed and arrested.

Election-related violence has already been noted during the campaign for the 2013 midterm election, with the killing of a mayor in Isabela being one of the high-profile cases. Recently, two electoral candidates in Masbate were shot a day apart from each other.

"The Maguindanao massacre where 58 people, including 32 media workers, were killed because of local politics should serve as a grim reminder to our police and election commissioners how deadly election season can be in the country,” Pangilinan said a statement.

Apart from the Comelec and the PNP, Pangilinan said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) must work double-time and outsmart these perpetrators to pinpoint the masterminds behind election-related violence and electoral fraud.

“It is only when we bring these cases to justice will we begin to see genuine change in how political campaigns are being run in the country," he said.