Election-Related Killings receive scant media attention

VIOLENCE CONTINUES to hound Philippine elections raising questions about the integrity of this fundamental exercise. Since the filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) in October 2024 until February 17, CMFR counted 29 attacks reported in the media, with seven cases in October, four in November, four in December, 8 in January 2025, and 6 more until February 17. Of the 29 targeted victims, only five survived.

While the media report the killings as these occur, reports have not noted the pattern of violence nor inquired further into the cases. Reports cited the police or barangay officials who at most said these may be election-related.

October 2024:

• October 3: Ramil Capistrano, president of the Association of Barangay Captains of Bulacan, and his driver were shot dead in Malolos, Bulacan. ABS-CBN News Online, GMA Regional TV, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Daily Tribune, and Manila Bulletin reported this.
• October 8: Bara Bauinda, a barangay watchman was killed and six others were injured in a clash between supporters of rival politicians on the last day of COC filing in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. Inquirer.net reported on this.
• October 19: Toto Gogo Kensa, a candidate for councilor in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, was ambushed and killed by unidentified assailants; his wife sustained injuries in the attack. Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and MindaNews reported on this.
• October 25: Hasid Bidalul, and Ridzman Asdaman, two barangay watchmen, were killed in Sumisip, Basilan. Philstar.com, MindaNews, SunStar, and Daily Tribune reported on this.
• October 25: Mary Ann Orillano, Barangay captain of Mataloto, Leyte was shot dead. Daily Tribune and Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on this.
• October 28: Mark Adrian Barba, Barangay captain of San Juan Bautista and president of the Association of Barangay Captains in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, was shot at least 30 times inside his car. His two companions were injured and were later proclaimed dead. Inquirer.net, GMA Regional TV, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune, and The Philippine Star reported this.

November 2024:

• November 17: Jose Osario, former barangay chairman and vice mayoral candidate was fatally shot in Tantangan, South Cotabato. Philstar.com, GMA Regional TV, ABS-CBN News Online, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sun Star, and Daily Tribune reported this.
• November 23: John Nico Allan Pandoy, election assistant in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, was shot dead. Philstar.com, The Philippine Star, GMA Integrated News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gold Star Daily, Rappler, and Sun Star reported this.
• November 25: Mark Orlando Q. Vallecer II, the acting election officer in Salvador, Lanao del Norte, and Janeco Allan Dionaldo Pandoy, election assistant in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, were killed in what police described as calculated attacks by unidentified assailants. Inquirer.net, Rappler, Philstar.com, The Philippine Star, Rappler, GMA Regional TV, ABS CBN News Online, TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas, and brigadanews.ph reported this.

December 2024:

• December 7: Ponciano Onia Jr., a reelectionist councilor of Umingan, Pangasinan, and national president of Abono Partylist, was ambushed and killed. Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philstar.com, GMA Regional TV, and the Philippine Star reported this.
• December 19: Glecerio Redillas, a reelectionist councilor was shot dead in Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte. Sun Star, Daily Tribune, Philstar.com, and The Philippine Star reported on this.
• December 21: Julie Vidzfar, the provincial election supervisor of Sulu survived an ambush in Zamboanga City; his brother was killed in the attack. All media reported this.
• December 25: Zainodin Sarip Guro, a farmer and petitioner who had raised concerns about the presence of “flying voters” was shot dead in Pualas, Lanao del Sur. Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, and Pilipino Star Ngayon reported on this.

January 2025:

• January 3: Michael Virallo, a councilor from Barangay Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, was shot 12 times by unidentified men. Daily Tribune, Philstar.com, GMA Integrated News, Business World, and bomboradyo.com reported this. 
• January 3: Kamran Abubakar, Barangay chairman of Sambulawan, Maguindanao del Sur, was shot multiple times at his home. Philstar.com, GMA Integrated News, Business World, and bomboradyo.com reported on this.
• January 4: A councilor from Barangay Lantawan, Zamboanga del Sur, was shot by unidentified men. Daily Tribune and GMA Integrated News reported on this. 
• January 18: Jerry Beltran Dopedo, candidate for councilor in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, was shot dead in Midsayap, Cotabato. Daily Tribune, Philstar.com, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, MindaNews, GMA Integrated News, Business World, and bomboradyo.com reported this. 
• January 23: Rasid Kamid, a barangay watchman, was killed on duty by armed men on motorcycles in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. MindaNews and Philstar.com reported on this.
• January 25: Anthony Verzola, a reelectionist municipal councilor of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, was shot in Vigan City. The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star Ngayon, and Manila Bulletin reported on this.
• January 27: Two barangay watchmen, 17-year-old Hassen Kumamo and Esmail Singh, were killed and three others were injured in a gun attack by unidentified assailants in motorcycles in Shariff Agauk, Maguindanao del Sur. MindaNews reported on this.

February 2025:

• February 2: Lejun Dela Cruz, a nominee of the MAGSASAKA Party-list, was reportedly ambushed by armed men in civilian clothes in Cainta, Rizal, before being apprehended in Pasig City. His party accused the police of an assassination attempt, while the PNP stated that he was lawfully arrested based on a 1992 murder warrant and that he attempted to flee and fired at officers, leading to a chase and injuries to a policeman. All media reported this.
• February 11: Anwar Dimasinsil, a vice mayoral candidate, alleged on Facebook that his convoy was ambushed, identifying a light gray car as behind the attack. He and his driver survived the attack. Former Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, a rival camp of Dimasinsil, alleged that the shooting of Dimasinsil’s SUV could be an “ambush-drama.” Inquirer.net and MindaNews reported on this.
• February 16: A 13-year old boy was ambushed as he drove his father’s car. The boy who survived the attack was a relative of Mangudadatu. MindaNews and Rappler reported on this.
• February 13: Edris Sangki, the Liga ng mga Barangay chairman and a councilor of Datu Abdullah Sangki town, his barangay secretary Abdul Latip, and another councilman Penny Balawagan were attacked and injured. Sangki later died. MindaNews, GMA Regional TV, Rappler, and Pilipino Star Ngayon reported on this.

The attacks included barangay officials, election officials, candidates, watchmen, a petitioner, and even family members. 

The data raises questions about the quality of elections, as violence could be a factor to deter citizens’ free and fair exercise of their right and duty to vote. The issue reveals the intensity of competition for electoral positions, the rivalries sustained at the grassroots level, targeting local political figures like barangay captains, councilors, and election officials. 

The high levels of violence recorded in Maguindanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, and Ilocos Norte reflect deep-rooted political conflicts and power struggles at the local level, with cases showing pre-meditated attacks. The circumstances reveal the vulnerability of local leaders and election-related personnel in these areas of the country. CMFR also noted that cases involving Comelec officials as victims were more widely publicized than cases involving political candidates.

Unfortunately, media reports have largely treated these as isolated incidents rather than as part of a troubling trend or a persistent pattern. A few media reports have recorded CHR and Comelec condemning attacks as these happen. Media reports treat these as separate cases often focusing on the immediate circumstances and the identities of the victims. This fragmented approach prevents the public from grasping the extent of the violence and its implications for the democratic process. 

The media must find ways of reporting these cases not as the norm and part of the nature of politics. Elections must be free and fair for the exercise to be democratic. But violence undermines the quality of freedom, both for those choosing from among the candidates and the candidates. Fear can dominate the contest and keep qualified people from seeking the people’s vote. 

The tendency to report such events in isolation may contribute to a lack of urgency in addressing the systemic issues that fuel election-related violence. By failing to connect these incidents into a broader narrative, media coverage risks normalizing political violence as a routine aspect of elections rather than a significant threat that demands comprehensive action.