The Philippine National Police on Monday announced that it has recorded at least 22 election-related incidents ahead of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated on 30 October.

PNP Information Office chief and spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo in a press briefing at Camp Crame said that of the total, two were already validated as election-related cases while 11 have been validated as not election-related cases.

She added that nine cases are still listed as election-related incidents while the validation is still being conducted.

Fajardo disclosed that the two validated incidents were recorded in Libon, Albay, where the victim Alex Repato, reelectionist captain of Barangay San Jose, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in his house during the first day of filing of Certificate of Candidacy last 28 August while the other incident was that a candidate was allegedly prevented from filing his CoC in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

The PNP spokesperson said the nine incidents from Regions 3, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 13 were proven unrelated to the elections while the other incidents are currently under validation.

Fajardo earlier said these incidents would have to be validated within 10 days by the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council using its parameters to determine if these can be considered as ERIs.

In other developments, the PNP reported that at least 286 firearms have been confiscated in checkpoint operations since the start of the gun ban in relation to the 30 October polls.

"As of 6 a.m. Monday, we have confiscated 286 firearms — 273 of which are small firearms and 13 are light weapons. As to the number of arrested personalities, we are still awaiting data because there is a discrepancy in the reports that came last night," said Fajardo.