Comelec: 19 confirmed dead during the 2023 BSKE

The Commission on Elections reported on Tuesday that about 19 people were confirmed dead as a result of election-related violence during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

According to Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, about 29 incidents occurred during BSKE.

"For the validated election-related violence which resulted in deaths, we have 29 of them… There were 29 incidents resulting in 19 deaths," Laudiangco said in an interview.

He added that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which he said has the "most tension and most red areas of concern" is where the majority of the executions occurred, including a candidate.

"Most of those killed are either supporters or relatives of the candidates," he added.

The spokesperson pointed out that the reported 19 fatalities of the 2023 BSKE was "quite low" in comparison to those recorded in the previous BSKE in 2018.

"Despite these figures being a cause for concern for the Comelec, of course, as much as possible, we don't want these incidents to happen, this is still quite low compared to 2018. Coming from the previous elections we have 300+ incidents resulting in less than a hundred deaths. Right now, it is still quite low," Laudiangco said.

About four were wounded and two victims were found dead lying on the side of the road sustained multiple gunshot wounds along the road of Cotabato-Shariff Aguak at Barangay Bugawas, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte before the voting for the BSKE 2023 started.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region regional police chief Police Brigadier General Allan Cruz Nobleza said that another shooting incident occurred in Maguindanao del Sur, that resulted in the death of an unidentified person.

In Butig, Lanao del Sur, a candidate for barangay chairperson was shot while six people were wounded including a barangay chairman candidate in Tuburan Basilan.

The spokesperson said that 113 cases of election-related violence were reported that are still being investigated by the authorities, even if they may not have resulted in fatalities while 19 people were also confirmed to have sustained injuries due to incidents related to the elections.

Laudiangco stated that the country's election system needs to be improved to instill in the voters that elections don't have to be violent in any way.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections in Western Visayas has suspended the proclamation of 25 candidates in the 2023 BSKE.

Regional Elections Director Dennis Ausan confirmed that the candidates were aware of pending cases against them.

"They know that they have pending cases. Our suspension order was served to our Board of Barangay Canvassers in the event these respondents win, they should not be proclaimed because of that suspension order," Ausan said in an interview on Monday.

Data from Comelec shows 21 disqualification petitions, three cases of denied due process, and one for a nuisance candidate.

Police Regional Office 6 Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor instructed all directors to assess the situation. About five punong barangay candidates from Iloilo province, two from Negros Occidental, one each from Capiz and Iloilo City, two SK chairpersons from Negros Occidental and Iloilo province, seven barangay kagawad, and seven SK kagawad from Negros Occidental made up the responses.

Iloilo City Elections Assistant II Jonathan Sayno confirmed the suspension of candidate Mark Winston Malote due to a nuisance candidacy. Petitioner Jose Martin Maloto claimed that Mark's candidacy caused confusion as he ran along with three candidates with the same family name in Barangay San Juan, Molo.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos urged the winners of the BSKE 2023 to submit their Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures early to the Comelec. Abalos emphasized the importance of timely submission and advised candidates not to wait for the 30-day deadline as mandated by Republic Act No. 7166. Abalos stressed the need for the candidates to ensure the inventory report of the barangay's assets and properties is legitimate and is turned over to them properly.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police reported about a 12.5% decrease in validated election-related incidents during the 2023 BSKE compared to the 2018 BSKE.

According to PNP Information Chief Col. Jean Fajardo, out of the 35 election-related incidents, 13 occurred in the Bangsamoro region, five in Cordillera, four in Mindanao, three each in Ilocos and Eastern Visayas, two each in Bicol and Central Visayas, and one each in Calabarzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, and National Capital Region. It is said that 17 of these ERVI's were shooting incidents.

The PNP is now focused on post-election activities, ensuring the secure transportation of ballots to the Comelec. During the election period, the PNP conducted checkpoint operations seizing 1,540 firearms and arresting 2032 gun ban violators.