MANILA, Philippines - Even before the barangay election heats up, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already recorded 96 village officials killed from January to September this year.
PNP records showed that from Jan. 1 to Sept. 22, there were 47 barangay chairmen and 49 councilors killed in different incidents.
The PNP data also showed that 41 barangay officials, 18 of whom were chairmen, were wounded in separate incidents during the same period.
Of the 117 incidents involving barangay officials, the PNP said that only 10 village executives were not harmed.
Meanwhile, during the barangay polls last 2010, the PNP reported a total of 97 incidents, 24 of which were validated as election-related violence.
Of the cases, 12 barangay chairmen, four councilors, an election officer and 14 civilians were killed, the PNP added.