THE long and tedious preparations in time for the election fell short as blood and glitches marred the 2025 national and local election.
As per data collated by the Philippine National Police (PNP), 82 election-related violence resulting in death, injury and destruction of properties occurred since January. On the very day of the election, nine persons killed in separate incidents across the country.
MINDANAO, AS USUAL
Mindanao recorded the most number of bloodsheds in relation to the election.
In Basilan, two were slain, while two others were wounded in what the police claimed as a legitimate encounter with members of a private armed group in the municipality of Hadji Muhtamad.
Also in Basilan, four persons were killed in armed skirmishes in Hadji Mohammad Ajul town on election eve.
A candidate for a municipal council seat of Bayang town and his brother were killed in an attack by still unidentified gunmen in Lanao del Sur on Monday morning.
In Maguindanao del Sur, police arrested 84 individuals in two separate operations — the first operation netted 60 flying voters while the second sting resulted in the apprehension of four ex-armies who were allegedly commissioned to sow terror in Buluan town.
A civilian succumbed to death following a heated argument with the supporters of a mayoral bet in Maguing town, Lanao del Sur while waiting for his turn to vote.
ALSO IN VISAYAS
Tension also gripped Silay City in Negros Occidental as, two people were killed and five others were wounded in a shooting incident early Monday, in Barangay Mambulac.
Police identified one of the alleged assailants as Chairman Arnie Benedicto of Barangay Lantad. Police have yet to establish the identity of two companions who were caught on cam spraying bullets while passing by a political group’s headquarters.
A village councilor in the hinterlands of Bohol province was shot dead on the eve of the May 12 midterm elections.
Police collared two suspected assailants behind an election eve ambush in Sitio Kabukogan, Barangay Poblacion, Sibonga town, southern Cebu.
A similar incident occurred in Eastern Samar: five people were arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Tangbo, Arteche town after police found firearms and illegal items in their vehicle.
Vote-buying was also recorded in Bohol, where two candidates will be made to face disqualification cases.
LUZON SKIRMISH
No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had a hard time as the ACM at the San Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Valdez, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, malfunctioned.
Former Sen. Ping Lacson, who forms part of the administration’s senatorial slate, claims to have experienced a minor glitch when he cast his vote in Imus, Cavite for the 2025 midterm elections.
Thirty two ACMs across Central Luzon were replaced because of malfunction.
Voters from Meycauayan City in Bulacan called out the Comelec hotline operators after they were told to just trust the system, as shaded ballots have not yet been fed to the automated counting machines.
In Camarines Sur, eight people were arrested for alleged vote-buying across several municipalities.
In Marikina, a man was caught distributing copies of a tabloid containing articles against suspended Mayor Marcy Teodoro.
SINISTER ERRORS
Thousands of voters have expressed disappointment upon learning they had unknowingly cast their votes for candidates they did not actually vote for, or worse, had their votes for a particular post invalidated.
According to Comelec, these glitches were caused by the ACM’s “high sensitivity” to extraneous marks and smudges on ballots.
Local election watchdogs reported a surge of complaints from voters that the ACMs indicated they overvoted even if there were only slight smudges in the oval of the candidates.
Interestingly, the pens used to mark the ballots are provided by the Comelec for the election day.
There were also complaints about the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) or the receipt printed by the ACM to allow voters to verify if their votes were cast correctly.