PNP: Reported BKSE-related incidents climb to 264

The number of violent incidents reportedly related to the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections or BSKE has climbed to 264, said the Philippine National Police on Thursday.

In a televised public briefing, PNP spokesperson Pcol. Jean Fajardo said only 47 of these incidents were confirmed to be related to the BSKE while 114 are still being validated, and 103 were found to be unrelated.

"We have recorded 264 incidents and 47 of those are validated election-related incidents and these are just in some regions," Fajardo said in Filipino, noting that 15 deaths and 43 people were injured during the BSKE.

Fajardo said most of the confirmed BSKE-related incidents were reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 16 cases, followed by 13 in Northern Mindanao, and four in Cordillera, while three cases were reported each in Ilocos and Eastern Visayas; two each in Bicol and Central Visayas; and one each in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Zamboanga.

She noted that 17 of the total validated election-related incidents happened in areas under the green category of poll watchlist areas.

These confirmed poll-related cases, she said, were the results of shooting incidents, mauling, physical confrontations and armed encounters, indiscriminate firing, fire incidents, ballot snatching, robbery, and grave threats.

Fajardo said the PNP recorded 27 vote-buying cases on 31 October with most cases logged in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and Calabarzon.

"This will be seriously considered in the next election and these areas might be placed or upgraded under the yellow category of the poll watchlist areas," she added.

Meanwhile, Fajardo said about 1,710 barangays in the National Capital Region were put in the green category of the election watch list with no incidents of election-related deaths and physical injuries. 

The PNP has arrested 2,077 individuals due to gun ban violations while 1,569 firearms have been confiscated.