Election Violence in the Philippines - January 2010

A Service of Christian Convergence for Good Governance

Election in the Philippines has been one of a contest by which the aim is winning the race. The prize would be prestige and enormous power including the bounty of pork barrels, internal revenue allotments, commissions from government projects, control over the underground market, and protection of personal and family interests. This is the reason why election in the country is always marred by violence.



The 1986 snap election posted the highest incidence of violence with Marcos’ military and police intimidating the voters leaving 153 deaths out of the reported 364 incidents on that election period. The lowest number of deaths was in 1998 presidential and local elections which registered 77 deaths out of 322 incidents.


Election violence is well-planned and premeditated and it happens anytime during the pre-election and campaign periods, day of election, counting and canvassing of votes, and proclamation of the winners. Violence comes in the form of kidnapping, death threats, intimidation, shooting, setting of ambushes, arson. Principal actors are usually politicians themselves with private armies, hired goons, military and police, rebel militias, and supporters. The victims are mostly the weaker candidates and their family members, campaign staff, journalists, supporters and sympathizers, election officers and COMELEC personnel, and even ordinary voters.

Election violence persists because of the existence of private armies of local warlords and political dynasties; the proliferation of loose firearms; and the prevalence of patronage politics. The acts of violence undermine the expression of democratic right to vote and participate in the electoral process.

Pray that…
1. the government will be effective in enforcing the gun ban.
2. measures will be undertaken to neutralize the private armies.
3. safety and security of observers and personnel managing the precinct will be ensured.
4. incidence of violence will be reduced this election.