Shooting at Philippine Presidential Election Polling Station... 3 Security Guards Dead

On the 9th, the day of the Philippine presidential election (local time), voters lined up in front of a polling station in Quezon City, on the outskirts of Manila. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day of the Philippine presidential election, three security guards were killed and one was injured due to gunfire by assailants at a polling station.

According to AFP on the 9th, assailants stormed a polling station set up in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on the southern island of Mindanao and opened fire that morning.

As a result of the incident, three security guards died on the spot, and another was seriously injured.

Various incidents and accidents have been occurring continuously ahead of the elections in the Philippines.

Two days ago, supporters of candidates running for mayor in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur province in the north engaged in a gunfight, resulting in four deaths and four injuries.

Also, in Nueva Ecija province in the north, security guards of two mayoral candidates shot each other, injuring five people and damaging nearby vehicles.

On the night of the 8th, a day before the election, five grenade explosions occurred outside polling stations in Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak autonomous regions in Maguindanao province on southern Mindanao island, injuring eight people.

Because firearm ownership is easy in the Philippines, violent crimes frequently occur, and maintaining public order is especially difficult during election seasons. During the 2016 presidential election, there were 113 incidents of gunfire, illegal detention, and other violent incidents.

The number of violent incidents since January this year is 16, significantly fewer compared to 2016.

Regarding this, Philippine police spokesperson Jean Pahardo explained, "This is the result of strengthened firearm control and crackdowns on private armed groups."

In fact, Philippine authorities deployed 48,000 soldiers and 16,000 police officers nationwide starting two days ago to maintain election security.

Additionally, the Philippine police have enforced a two-day alcohol ban nationwide starting from the day before the presidential election, the 8th.

Through this election, the Philippines will elect the president and vice president, 13 senators, 300 representatives, and 18,000 local government officials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.