The Philippine National Police (PNP) has validated a total of 46 poll-related incidents throughout the election period until 12 May.

Among the incidents, one occurred each in the Ilocos Region, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao; two each in Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN; three in Central Luzon; four in Zamboanga Peninsula; five in CALABARZON; eight in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); and 13 in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Chief Colonel Randulf Tuaño said authorities also logged 82 suspected election-related incidents and validated 34 non-election-related incidents.

Further, Tuaño reported a total of 43 cases of vote-buying and vote-selling involving 96 individuals nationwide from 12 January to 12 May.

Of the 96 suspects, 50 were already arrested, 22 remain at large, and 24 have been released.

Of the total cases, five have yet to be formally submitted, five have been filed, 12 are for filing, one suspect has posted bail, four have been dismissed, and 15 are still under investigation.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,100 individuals have been arrested for violating the election gun ban, with authorities confiscating 3,190 firearms as of 12 May.

The gun ban will remain in effect until 11 June.

The PNP also apprehended 232 individuals for violating the two-day liquor ban on 11 and 12 May. Comelec Resolution No. 10999 prohibits the sale, distribution, offering, purchase, service, or consumption of alcoholic beverages nationwide, except for hotels and establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism that cater to foreign tourists.

Other incidents

The PNP reported that a total of 27 incidents were recorded on election day.

Five shooting incidents were recorded in BARMM, the Negros Island Region, and CAR. Three explosions were also reported in BARMM.

The PNP added that two mauling incidents were monitored in CAR.

There were also reported cases of strafing, robbery, fire, suspected flying voters, and delays in automated counting machines (ACMs) in various regions.

As of writing, the PNP has yet to provide an updated number of fatalities and injuries from these election-related incidents (ERIs).

Generally peaceful

Despite the reported incidents, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil described the 2025 midterm elections as generally peaceful.

"Very peaceful. Tuluy-tuloy yung pulis natin, tuluy-tuloy yung huli. Sabi ko nga, lahat ng manggugulo tinatanggal namin and we want arrests. I want more arrests. Walang pwedeng gumulo sa eleksyon," he told reporters in a chance interview at Camp Karingal in Quezon City on Monday.

(Our police operations are continuous, and arrests are ongoing. As I said, we are removing anyone causing trouble, and we want arrests. I want more arrests. No one should be allowed to disrupt the election.)

Marbil directed all PNP units to ensure the security of the vote canvassing process.

The PNP noted that this year’s validated ERIs were lower compared to the 105 incidents logged during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). However, the number is higher than the 27 reported during the 2022 presidential elections.

“This year’s polls were notably more peaceful compared to previous elections, with only a few election-related incidents (ERIs) reported in areas such as the BARMM and Abra,” Tuaño explained.

“Nonetheless, these incidents were isolated, and no failure or postponement of elections was recorded anywhere in the country,” he added.

Remains on full alert status

Although voting has concluded and some candidates have already been proclaimed, the PNP will remain on full alert status.

“Ang full alert po ay mananatili hanggang matapos ang 100 percent ang bilangan at proklamasyon,” Tuaño said.

(We will remain under full alert status until the canvassing and proclamation is 100 percent completed)

All PNP units have been on full alert since 3 May — nine days before the 12 May midterm polls.