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Elections in the Philippines have evolved into brutal political competitions over the years, with the persistent claims of general peace and safety often overshadowing the reality of election-related incidents (ERIs).
In this B-side episode, Rona Ann V. Caritos, executive director for the Legal Network of Truthful Elections (LENTE), discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola the prevailing history and implications of election-related violence for Philippine democracy.
Among incumbents and candidates, there have been 1,497 killed, 312 wounded, and 147 escaped attempts from Jan. 2006 to August this year, according to Peter Kreuzer, senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt.
According to LENTE, the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) had 47 confirmed ERIs as of Nov. 10, with more than 100 suspected cases.
Ms. Caritos noted shooting, physical injury, and intimidation as the leading causes of ERIs.
The most number of ERIs were found in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao, and Cordillera Administrative Region, she added.
“This is the most violent [election] because the number [of ERIs] has increased since 2013 and 2018,” Ms. Caritos said.
She noted the general public’s increased investment in the election due to the pandemic as a theory for the increase.
“People know how valuable barangay and SK officials are when it comes to frontline government services and programs.”
Ms. Caritos mentioned the color-coding scheme of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), where it employs a green-yellow-red assessment for areas in terms of needed security and control, as an area that could be improved upon to curb the growth in ERIs.
“In areas such as BARMM, the Comelec should adopt a different color-coding scheme, or should take into account the environment or the context of what is happening in the region,” she said.
“Given the many changes there — in terms of the territory of the political families and parties competing in the region,” she added.
KEY PROBLEMS
Ms. Caritos pointed out that electoral competitiveness and a lack of accountability are major problems contributing to the uptick in ERIs.
“The number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,” she noted. “[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.”
“Given this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,” she added.
“The number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,” she said. “[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.”
“Given this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,” she added.
“People are not afraid to commit these incidents because they know that even if they’re charged for it, they won’t get imprisoned for it.”
However, Ms. Caritos said the Comelec has recently undergone its “best innovation,” wherein it became more aggressive and focused on reported cases.
“We’ve seen this aggressive stance of the Comelec in going after premature campaigners…, vote buyers and vote sellers,” she said.
“This is the first time in LENTE that we’ve experienced candidates and political parties calling our hotlines and asking about the processes because they’re afraid to commit violations and have cases be filed against them.”
Ms. Caritos noted the role of local communities and civil society organizations in helping the Comelec ensure the integrity and safety of elections.
“It needs the help of organizations to go after and educate people against election offenses, and teach them how to go after law violators, or how to document offenses, if ever they witness one or be a victim of it,” she said.
Following the Comelec’s commitment to continuing the investigation and prosecution beyond the election period, LENTE maintains a positive outlook for the next elections, monitoring what the Comelec will do in response to the rise in ERIs and other malicious activities, she added.
Recorded remotely on Nov. 10, 2023.
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