Poll violence, disturbance concerning – Namfrel

MANILA, Philippines — Reports of violence and disturbance nationwide during the midterm polls are concerning, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said yesterday.

In Silay City, Negros Occidental, the poll watchdog said about three of six people involved in a shooting incident died.

At the municipal hall of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte, protests ensued after the town was placed under the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s control following the killing of the local election officer and her husband.

About 312 police officers were deployed to man polling centers.

In Maguing and Bayang towns in Lanao del Sur, a man suspected of vote buying was killed, while a councilor bet and the brother of a barangay chairman were slain.

In Marantao town, suspected “flying” voters – or people paid to vote in an area they do not reside in – were mobbed.

Damaged and malfunctioning automated counting machines (ACMs) were also reported.

In Marawi City’s Barangay Sagonsongan, two poll watchers from opposing political parties had an altercation that led to water being thrown at an ACM.

In San Francisco Elementary School in Quezon City, voters left their filled-out ballots with the electoral board after an issue with the ACM took two hours to resolve.

In Bongato East Elementary School in Bayambang, Pangasinan, several ballots were rejected by the machine due to creases. The electoral board set the ballots aside for safekeeping and said they would try to feed them to the machine later.

In Sto. Niño Elementary School in Caloocan City, an observer said 15 minutes were spent fixing an ACM that did not accept a ballot, labeling it as a “misread ballot.”

Delayed transmission

Election watchdogs are seeking the Comelec’s explanation on the “delayed and incomplete transmission” of poll results from ACMs, which spurred doubts on the authenticity of Monday’s midterm elections.

There was a “significant discrepancy” between the data accessible to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and figures reflected on the Comelec website in terms of the election return receipt, PPCRV spokesperson Ana de Villa Singson said yesterday morning.

Delays in data transmission and discrepancies “fueled public suspicion about possible throttling or manipulation of transmitted results,” Namfrel said.

PNP still on full alert

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will remain on full alert until the canvassing of votes is completed and winners are proclaimed.

Twenty-seven cases of violence and other incidents were recorded on election day, the PNP said.

In Bangsamoro, three shooting incidents and three explosions occurred.

Nine died in suspected poll-related incidents: five in Bangsamoro, two in the Negros Island Region and one each in Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao.

For the entire election period, the PNP documented 46 election-related incidents, which is 56.19 percent lower compared with 105 cases during the 2023 barangay and Sagguniang Kabataan elections.

Meanwhile, about 167,319 police officers or 71.19 percent of PNP personnel were deployed in the midterm polls, including 3,698 assigned as special electoral board members in Bangsamoro and Abra.

Some 37,817 troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection were also deployed.

As for vote buying incidents on election day, 43 were recorded nationwide, leading to 50 people arrested, 22 at large and 24 released from police custody.

At least 232 people were apprehended for violating the liquor ban.

Over 3,100 people were arrested and 3,190 firearms were confiscated on Monday, PNP public information officer Col. Randulf Tuano said.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, election monitors Climate Conflict Action Asia described the election season as “potentially catastrophic” for the region that will hold its own parliamentary elections in October.

CCAA cited in particular the “puny” election gun ban, return of unauthorized checkpoints, as well as voter intimidation and political bullying. — Emmanuel Tupas