Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday expressed deep concern over the growing number of violent incidents linked to the campaign and upcoming elections on 12 May.

Senator Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, particularly pointed out the near-daily shootings in Abra, the assassination of a mayor in Cagayan, and the highest number of election-related violence recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“There must be stronger police, military and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) presence in areas where these crimes are happening. The enforcement of the gun ban needs to be intensified and taken seriously — especially with the growing reports of semi-automatic and heavier firearms being used in election hotspots,” Marcos said in a statement.

The senator stressed the urgent need for tighter security, particularly in areas declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as “red areas” or high-threat zones.

She also urged Comelec to include on its watchlist areas with a long history of election violence, such as Rizal and Cagayan.