Injured	Killed
17	15

Date: 21 October 2013
Source: GMA News

Fifteen people have already been killed in crime incidents connected with the October 28 barangay elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a statement.

Those killed were a candidate, two incumbent barangay captains, five barangay kagawads, and seven civilians, according to figures from the PNP’s Public Information Office.

The 15 were just part of the 36 reported victims of 20 politically-motivated violent incidents recorded by the PNP as of October 21 since the election period started September 28.

At least 17 were wounded and four were unharmed, the PNP said. Nineteen incidents were gun-related while one was a stabbing incident, it added.

At least four barangay captains, two kagawad, two councilors, a candidate, and eight civilians were wounded, PNP said. Meanwhile, those unharmed in the election-related violence were two kagawads, one barangay captain, and one civilian.

The PNP has also identified 6,195 barangays as “areas of concern” in connection with the upcoming barangay elections.

The number constitutes 14.74 percent of the total 42,038 barangays nationwide, PNP’s public information chief Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said during the “Tapatan sa Aristocrat” forum on Monday.

In the National Capital Region alone, at least 39 barangays out of the 1,704 were declared areas of concern, Sindac said.

The PNP determines the election areas of concern based on the occurrence of election violence, intense political rivalry, presence of private armed groups and other threat groups, occurrence of politically motivated violent incidents outside the election period, and the proliferation of firearms.

Meanwhile, the PNP as of October 21 has arrested 438 persons found violating the gun ban, which started September 28, Sindac said. The gun ban will last until November 12.

Of this number, 410 were civilians, 16 were security guards, five were members of the PNP, four were from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and three were government officials.

The PNP has also confiscated 352 firearms, 16 replica guns, 140 bladed weapons, 64 grenade, 86 other explosives, and 2,685 rounds of ammunition. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News