Camille Naredo

Comelec Chair George Garcia shows a sample of the electronic ballot during the Local Source Code Review of the Automated Election Systems (AES) at the Circuit Corporation One building in Makati city on October 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Comelec Chair George Garcia shows a sample of the electronic ballot during the Local Source Code Review of the Automated Election Systems (AES) at the Circuit Corporation One building in Makati city on October 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Comelec

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174056582086420241011-comelec-source-code-review-JC-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Comelec Chair George Garcia shows a sample of the electronic ballot during the Local Source Code Review of the Automated Election Systems (AES) at the Circuit Corporation One building in Makati city on October 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Comelec Chair George Garcia shows a sample of the electronic ballot during the Local Source Code Review of the Automated Election Systems (AES) at the Circuit Corporation One building in Makati city on October 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeing a spike in election related violence (ERV) as the country approaches the start of the official campaign period for the local positions on March 28. In a news forum in Manila on Wednesday, Comelec chairman George Garcia said, most of the recent ERVs happened in the province of Maguindanao and Cotabato City. “Meron nitong nakakaraang araw, may mga kandidato rin na namatay o natambangan, meron ding na-sarifice na ilang bata na nadadamay...so medyo worried po tayo sa ganyang development kasi may involved na mga bata,”  Garcia said. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/25/sc-orders-francis-leo-antonio-marcos-to-explain-withdrawal-from-elections-1500">SC orders Francis Leo Antonio Marcos to explain withdrawal from elections</a> </div>Garcia admits that since the official campaign period for the local level is just about to start next month, the commission still has limitations on how to go about certain issues related to the election.   “Saan naman kayo nakakita… Nagkakamatayan na nga... Napakahirap ibalanse nun, although we have the power not to confiscate firearms, may power na rin kami dun sa classification… Wala pa kami masyadong jurisdiction sa local. Kaya lang po… meron kaming certain limitations,” Garcia explained. Garcia further acknowledged that there are provinces that will most likely be placed under the red category. “Baka po yes, may mga napansin po tayo na nasa orange category na bigla na lang nagkaroon ng spike ng violence - hindi naman po ganon kataas kaya lang mukhang kinakailangan yung aming security forces mas damihan namin dun sa areas na yun,” Garcia said. On Monday, March 3, P/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil will meet with Comelec officials. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/2/26/gcash-limits-send-money-transactions-to-curb-vote-buying-amid-elections-1557">GCash limits &#x27;send money&#x27; transactions to curb vote buying amid election season</a> </div>Garcia explained, he is satisfied with the current security plan in place for the midterm polls. “Hindi po, talaga lang may mga hindi makatiis na hindi sila hahawak ng baril. May criminal minds talaga….talagang ang dapat lang diyan, presence ng military at ng PNP…hindi po kulang,” Garcia said. The next 45-day campaign period for local candidates, according to Garcia, will be more critical. “Basta papalapit na ganyan, asahan ninyo pag pumasok ang 45-day period ng campaign, yan ang pinaka-critical,” Garcia said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeing a spike in election related violence (ERV) as the country approaches the start of the official campaign period for the local positions on March 28.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeing a spike in election related violence (ERV) as the country approaches the start of the official campaign period for the local positions on March 28.

Comelec sees rise in election related violence

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Comelec sees rise in election related violence

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 26, 2025 06:31 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 26, 2025 11:10 PM PHT

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