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Soldiers keep watch by a military vehicle transporting election material, as supporters of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party block the convoy from leaving the Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal hall to nearby polling centres, delaying the start of polling in the town amid an electoral board dispute, in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte province, on the southern island of Mindanao on Monday, May 12, 2025.
AFP / Ferdinandh Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) has tallied reports of at least seven poll-related fatalities, including ones that happened days before election day, and multiple injuries.
In a statement on Monday, May 12, NAMFREL said its volunteers across the country verified incidents that led to the deaths of at least seven individuals, most of which occurred in Mindanao.
Silay City, Negros Occidental
- Two to three people were killed during a shooting incident in front of the headquarters of a mayoral candidate.
- Initial reports said six individuals were involved, with several victims, supporters of the incumbent mayor, rushed to the hospital.
- The incident was reportedly triggered by supporters of a former mayor.
Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
- The incident involved protesters blocking the distribution of election materials and disrupting the voting process by confronting electoral board members at their polling precincts.
- Two were killed before election day, involving a local election officer and her husband.
- The killings led to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placing the municipality under its control, with 312 police officers assigned at polling centers.
Maguing, Lanao del Sur
- One unidentified male residing from Pikit, Maguindanao was killed for alleged vote buying.
Bayang, Lanao del Sur
- Two persons, a councilor bet and a barangay chairman’s brother, were killed.
Other reported incidents of election-related violence include:
Marantao, Lanao del Sur
- A mob attacked six vans allegedly transporting “flying voters,” leaving some passengers injured and vehicles damaged. These are individuals who vote in areas where they are not registered to influence the elections.
Sagonsongan, Marawi City
- A confrontation between poll watchers from rival parties escalated into an incident where water was thrown at an automated counting machine.
“NAMFREL is currently verifying with its NAMFREL chapters other incidents reported, and will include them in forthcoming Bulletins once verified,” the Comelec-accredited civilian arm said.
On top of election-related violence, volunteers also reported several cases of technical glitches, including malfunctioning vote-counting machines, ballots flagged as invalid or for over-voting, and long lines that hampered voter turnout.
The May 12 elections ran from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., with around 68 million Filipinos expected to have submitted their ballots.
