The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) strongly denounces the recent surge of violence targeting election candidates and officials in various parts of the country. Despite the recent conclusion of the filing of certificates of candidacy, incidents of assault and violence have already been reported and have been taken cognizance by the Commission.
On 25 September 2024, Agutaya municipal election officer Emmanuel Gacott and his wife were found dead in their household in Brgy. Cambian in Palawan. Based on the police’s initial investigation, they are looking into robbery as a likely motive for the crime, though the possibility that the victims were targeted due to Gacott’s role as an election officer has not been ruled out.
Francisco Bagay, a barangay chair in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, was declared dead on arrival after he was gunned down in his own garage by unidentified men on 20 September 2024. Both personal and political motives are under investigation by the San Nicolas police, who have established a Special Investigation Task Group to focus on the incident.
Meanwhile, a kagawad of Brgy. Lapting, Bello Joseph Padue Valorozo and his son were shot dead by a riding-in-tandem on 23 September 2024 in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. The local police have conducted a dragnet operation to capture the gunmen and to determine the motive of the crime.
The CHR has also taken cognizance of the violence which occurred between residents and a group of a supposed vice mayoral candidate in Maguindanao del Sur, during the filing of certificates of candidacy in Shariff Aguak on 08 October 2024. This resulted in the death of a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), while six others were injured.
A barangay kagawad vying for another seat in the next elections in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur was also shot dead by unidentified gunmen on 19 October 2024. The said kagawad, Toto Gogo Kensa, was driving a motorcycle with his wife when they were attacked along the highway. Due to this, a Special Investigation Task Group was promptly formed to investigate the attack.
The Commission vehemently condemns these incidents which undermine the integrity of local governments, the effectiveness of public service, and every Filipino’s right to a safe environment—especially as the election season approaches. We must be reminded that violence affecting both electoral candidates and community peacekeepers also endangers the safety and well-being of every Filipino voter.
As part of our mandate to protect and promote the rights of Filipinos, the CHR has deployed a Quick Response Operation (QRO) to the aforementioned incidents to investigate the motives and assess if these are politically motivated.
The Commission emphasizes that every Filipino is guaranteed their right to vote as a foundational pillar to their participation in the process of genuine democratic governance which represents the will of the masses. In order to uphold the sanctity of our ballots, we must first recognize the quality of democracy that we all hold the obligation to preserve—one that is free from violence and should be characterized by fairness, transparency, and impartiality.###