PNP says it solved 21 cases of post election-related incidents

May 30, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Thursday said they solved 21 cases out of 51 post-election related incidents they recorded.

Police Colonel Bernard Banac, the PNP spokesman, said in a press briefing their National Election Monitoring Action Center (Nemac) still receive reports of post-election related incidents against local government officials.

Banac said usual victims were barangay captains and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) officials.

He added out of the 51 recorded incidents they recorded since May 14 up to this date, eight were killed, 14 were wounded while 29 were unharmed.

“As of today 21 cases were solved, eight cleared and 22 still under investigation,” said Banac.

“The PNP Chief, Police General Oscar D Albayalde strongly condemns these violent attacks to the elected officials. The PNP Chief warns those perpetrators: we will crack you down,” he said.

In a text message to The Daily Manila Shimbun, Banac said some incidents have yet to be “validated” as election related.

“Not all are qualified as election related. It so happened these incidents occurred during post-election period,” he said.

“Thus in so far as validated ERIs (election related incidents), only 59 is the tally as of May 30,” he added.

Of the 59 incidents happened since January 13, 23 were killed, 43 wounded, and 44 were unharmed.

According to Banac, twenty one cases were filed at Prosecutor’s Office, six under investigation and two were amicably settled.

Banac said they will double their efforts in the campaign against those involved and put them behind bars.

“Following the directive of the Secretary for Interior and Local Government, Honorable Eduardo M. Año, Police General Albayalde has directed all regional offices to synchronize all investigative efforts to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incidents,” said Banac.

“While it is premature to make early conclusions at this point, our actions will be guided by available facts and evidence at hand, and other evidences that may be obtained later in the course of the investigation,” he added.

PNP said they are confident that in due time, they will achieve a breakthrough in their investigation.

Banac assured the public it is doing its best efforts to uphold peace and order in the country. Ella Dionisio/DMS