16 local candidates killed in 24 poll-related violent incidents

Sixteen local candidates have been killed in the 24 poll-related violent incidents recorded since the election period started last January 10, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police. CIDG director Chief Superintendent Don Montenegro said these cases are under investigation by the police’s Task Force EGO (Elected Government Official). Incidents included the killing of Zambales vice gubernatorial aspirant Willy Viloria who was gunned on March 1 and the fatal shooting of Luis Mondia Jr., a mayoralty candidate in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental last month. For his part, CIDG information officer Felix Vargas said that a total of nine local candidates survived ambush attempts while three others were injured. Vargas said the Task Force EGO is investigating a total of 95 election-related violent incidents since its creation in June 2009. Of this number, 65 were killed, 22 were wounded, and 11 were unharmed. In the 2004 presidential elections, the PNP had recorded 249 election-related violent incidents, where 41 politicians were killed and 18 were wounded. Police also tallied 229 poll-related violent incidents in the 2007 elections, where 37 candidates were killed and 24 others were wounded. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV