Gun attacks, technical glitches and power supply issues greeted the midterm polls on Monday while pockets of violence were reported during voting hours in some parts of the country but the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the May 12 elections were generally peaceful and orderly.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said all the more than 163,000 policemen, backed by over 200,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies will remain on guard until such time that the canvassing of votes in various polling centers are completed.

“It’s very peaceful. But all our policemen on the grounds remain on guard, they continue to make arrests. My instruction is to arrest all those who would dare to create trouble,” said Marbil.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the technical glitches and power interruptions were reported in some parts of Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Cordillera Administrative Region. 

The power interruptions, according to Fajardo, were caused by electric transmission issues but these were resolved in some areas like the voting center in Pantangan National High School in Nueva Ecija.

Marbil said they have been preparing for all elections scenarios since last year and this includes training policemen to act board of election inspectors (BEIs) in cases of serious threats in some polling centers.

More than 3,000 policemen were trained as BEIs and were placed on standby and so far, only 312 policemen were tapped for election inspection duty in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.

But Marbil said the PNP’s intensified operations do not end after the casting of votes, saying another crucial part is the canvassing of votes.

“We don’t see any problem right now but we will be monitoring the accounting after the election, by 7 p.m. But I said we need more forces by 6 p.m. We want full force by 6 p.m. up to 12 o’clock for the counting (of votes),” said Marbil.

Election day incidents

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, the PNP reported that four people died while 12 others were injured in gun attacks and other violence in some parts of the country. 

Two of the fatalities were reported in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) while two others in Negros Island Region. On the other hand, eight of the injured victim were reported in BARMM while the rest were in Negros Island Region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

A total of 62 people were arrested for violation of the liquor ban on Monday. A total of 159 people were arrested for liquor ban violation on May 11. 

A total of 19 people were arrested for vote-buying and selling while 22 others are at large.

BARMM polls

Police have been focusing on the security in BARMM due to its history of election violence and after the voting ended on Monday, the Western Mindanao Area Police Command said the election in the region is generally peaceful.

Police Maj. Gen. Bernard Banac, commander of the Western Mindanao Area Police Command and the Special Task Force BARMM, said there were pockets of violence reported but all of them did not impact on the election day in the region.

But Banac said all troops and personnel remain vigilant and on full alert.

“We will remain full force in preventing occurrence of crimes and respond swiftly in case of emergency or any call for help from the public at the closing hours of elections this evening and beyond,” said Banac.