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Poll violence this year fewer than '04, '01 - PNP


Fewer incidents of violence were recorded in this year's election period compared to the 2004 and 2001 national elections, records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed. A final tabulation of this year's election-related violent incidents (ERVI's) released by PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Wilfredo Garcia showed there were only 146 violent incidents in this year's election period that were confirmed to be election-related. The incidents happened from January 14 until June 13 of this year, which left 75 killed and 129 wounded. In the June 12, 2007 data provided by Chief Superintendent Louie Palmera, also of the PNP Directorate for Operations' office, the number of ERVI's for this year reached 231, involving 177 deaths and 214 injured victims. Garcia explained the figures were subsequently reduced after the rest were found to be not election-related. This year's ERVI figure is notably smaller compared to the 249 ERVI's in 2004, and 269 in 2001. In a text message, Deputy Director General Antonio Billones, commander of the now-defunct PNP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) 2007, said the relatively "successful" security preparations of the PNP for this year's elections could be attributed to "a combination of several factors." These are "preemptive action of identifying areas of concern for PNP priority in deployment of troops; conduct of checkpoints to deter and control movement of armed groups, guns, and other deadly weapons; strict implementation of gun ban; police visibility; providing security to candidates; awareness and information drive; community support and public concern; media support and coverage; and, politicians' attitude." The 2004 election violence claimed 189 lives and left 279 injured, while the 2001 ERVI's involve 111 deaths and 253 injured victims. Included in those killed this year were 23 politicians and candidates. In 2004, 41 of the 189 people killed were politicians and candidates, while in 2001, 21 politicians and candidates died. Sought for his explanation on the fewer ERVI's this year, Garcia said in a separate text message: "We are more prepared and better organized for this elections. We did and implemented the plans well ahead of time." The PNP supervised the security for this year's elections with the Armed Forces of the Philippines taking the supporting role following the latter's non-deputation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in compliance with an October 2006 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the poll body and the Department of National Defense. The MOA, initiated by former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr, was an aftermath of allegations that the military was used in the alleged electoral fraud by the Arroyo administration in the 2004 polls. - GMANews.TV

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