Media on Elections and Violence 2016
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Eastern Visayas Scope and Time Frame The report for Eastern Visayas took note of violent incidents from January to May 29, based from information in the media and data from PNP. Samar was included in the provinces considered by the PNP as EWAs. Most, if not all of the incidents remained unsolved. A high-ranking police official in Samar even claimed that all of the incidents were not election-related cases, claiming that these were due to “personal grudges.” In most cases, suspects were unidentified but many believed they are members of the private armed groups (PAGs) apparently managed by influential politicians. There are instances that the suspects were identified as aides or bodyguards of politicians. In two documented shooting incidents, the suspects were identified as political rivals of the victims. The violence occurred despite peace agreements brokered by the police and military among party leaders and political clans. As of May 29, or 25 days after the elections, the Samar police were still saying that they were conducting validation and verification whether the documented incidents of violence since January are cases of ERIs or not. The Police Regional Office 8 even questioned and challenged incumbent Gov. Sharee Ann Tan to show proof to back her letter requesting the Comelec to place the province under their control due to violence. The police, up to the last moment, maintained the violence were not election-related. In the data on ERIs released by the PNP national headquarters covering Jan. 10 to June 8, Eastern Visayas was not among those with verified ERIs. PNP Data As of this writing, no official data has been released by the PNP as to the final count of shooting incidents and killings in Region 8. Calls and requests sent to the Police Regional Office 8 went unanswered. But as per monitoring of police media statement, the PNP recorded a total of 25 shooting incidents from January – May 2016. They ruled out that those incidents were not alarming compared to 80 incidents recorded in the same period in 2015. Families and friends of the victims of the violence have demanded for justice. A rally was even held. Bishops and priests during their homilies have urged officials to end violence and for the police to solve the crimes. The Catholic Church even wrote a letter to the Aquino administration to solve the killings. The incidents happened despite the deployment of at least a hundred highly-trained policemen to “hot spots.” The data used in this report are from PNP statements, media reports and witnesses’ accounts. Of the 15 victims of harassment and intimidation, almost all of them are either identified supporters or candidates. They alleged that someone in power is behind the raids conducted by the police and were intent at intimidating them by planting evidences and filing of cases against them. The police have defended the raids as legitimate operations. All of the shooting incidents were in ambushes. The assailants used high-powered firearms in killing their targets. There are cases were the victims were abducted before being found dead. One soldier died and several others were wounded in a clash between the NPA rebels and government troops escorting the transport of vote counting machines in Northern Samar. |
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