THE PNP yesterday said the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) has increased to 97, which police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil wants to be resolved immediately.
The PNP said the number, which rose from 49 as of last March 15, is lower compared to the recorded ERIs during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), which was at 105.
The figure, however, is higher than the 27 ERIs recorded during the 2022 national and local elections.
The ERIs in this year’s election were recorded during the election period which started last January 12 and will end on June 11.
The PNP said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered them to “pursue with urgency” the resolution of the ERIs, many of which are still under police investigation.
Marbil said he has ordered PNP units across the country to fast-track the investigation into the ERIs and to ensure that justice will be swiftly served.
“Not a single case should remain unresolved,” he said.
“This is a direct order from the President: We must not allow violence and intimidation to tarnish the democratic process. The PNP will act with speed, precision, and transparency to resolve all pending cases,” Marbil said
Marbil likewise ordered PNP regional and provincial directors to submit a progress report on the ERIs and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable in accordance with the law.
“We owe it to the public to pursue these cases with the urgency they deserve. The peaceful conduct of the 2025 elections must be complemented by a justice system that works swiftly and effectively,” he said.
The PNP also reported 38 vote-buying incidents, which is 14 higher compared to incidents recorded during the BSKE.
The PNP said the increase does not necessarily mean a rise in electoral fraud but a direct result of the PNP’s strengthened police presence, intelligence gathering, and intensified response.
“We will never tolerate any form of electoral fraud. Our intensified operations against vote buying are proof that we stand firm in our mandate to protect the sanctity of the ballot and uphold the rule of law in every corner of the country,” said Marbil.
“This is not just about numbers—it is about making every vote count and restoring our people’s faith in the electoral process,” he added.
