Election-related violence is nothing new in the Philippines. While some of the harassment has moved online, skirmishes in real life continue until this day.
This past Monday’s midterm polls was no different. Below, are just some of the violent incidents that transpired before, during, and after the election.
The killing of Congressman Rodel Batocabe
A member of AKO BICOL party-list, Rep. Batocabe and his security escort Orlando Diaz were killed by two bonnet-wearing gunmen when they attended a gift-giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the village of Burgos in Daraga, Albay at around 3pm on Dec. 22.
Batocabe was supposed to run for mayor in this week’s election against then-Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo. The latter was identified by other suspects as the mastermind behind the slay and he surrendered at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Legazpi City just last week. Batocabe’s widow Gertrudes Batocabe ran in his place.
Despite facing a murder charge, Baldo was still allowed to run for re-election but ended up in third place, losing to his Vice Mayor Victor Perete. Gertrudes, meanwhile, ended up in second place.
Armed men raid congressman’s house
Authorities are still hunting down the five armed men who forcibly entered the house of Catanduanes Congressman Cesar Sarmiento in the village of Ibong Sapa in Virac, Catanduanes on May 4.
The suspects, who allegedly wore military uniforms, barged into several rooms inside the house but didn’t hurt Sarmiento’s family. They didn’t take anything and allegedly fled the crime scene on a maroon-colored SUV.
Sarmiento, who ran for Catanduanes governor this week, said that the incident is possibly election-related because they found that someone had been removing his posters in the province. He lost the election against incumbent Governor Joseph Cua.
Maguindanao blasts
Four blasts were recorded in Cotabato City and Maguindanao a day before and on election day. Two rifle grenades exploded near the Cotabato City Hall in the village of Rosary Heights a few minutes past 10pm on May 12.
A few hours later at 1am, it was followed by another grenade explosion that occurred in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao. Another explosion occurred in the same town at 7:30am on election day. No one was reported hurt by these explosions.
From the perspective of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde, these successive explosions have nothing to do with the elections because they occurred far from polling precincts. However, Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, a commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assigned in Mindanao, believes they were election-related and were done to scare off voters, reported Manila Bulletin.
Both the AFP and the PNP are still looking for the perpetrators of the explosions.
Burning of vote-counting machines (VCMs)
Earlier this week, two men were arrested for allegedly stealing and burning two VCMs with 200 ballots, and other paraphernalia after the election in the town of Jones, Isabela province. The two men were allegedly armed when they took the VCMs and other materials from a dump truck, which was on its way to Jones’ municipal hall where the canvassing center was located. The police are still investigating the case.
But that’s not the only case of VCM burning. A person attempted to burn several VCMs which were placed inside a classroom in San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday, SunStar reported. The machines, which had ballots that remained uncounted, were kept inside the Central Elementary School because teachers were waiting for technicians to reconfigure their SD cards. Investigators said an unidentified person poured gasoline inside the classroom and set it on fire.
Seven machines were saved and only one was completely destroyed in the fire. There were no fatalities from the incident, reported ABS-CBN News.
