Elections in the Philippines are dangerous for both candidates and civilians alike.
While political assassinations often dominate headlines, many victims of election violence are bystanders, security personnel, journalists, and local officials caught in the crossfire. These incidents not only result in the loss of life but also weaken democratic institutions, discourage voter participation, and allow political warlords to maintain control over key regions.
Data from election watchdogs and law enforcement agencies consistently highlight the growing number of casualties each electoral cycle. The most prominent case of collateral damage was the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre, in which 58 people were killed, including 32 journalists, several civilians, and members of a political rival’s family.
In the run-up to the 2025 elections, between October 2024 and February 2025, there were 29 documented election-related attacks, leading to 24 deaths and five injuries. These incidents occurred across multiple provinces, with high concentrations in Mindanao.
In October 2024, a barangay watchman was killed, and six others were injured in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, following a violent clash between rival political groups on the final day of candidate registration. A similar ambush in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan resulted in the death of a councilor aspirant and injuries to his wife.
December 2024 saw a string of political assassinations, including the fatal ambush of Ponciano Onia Jr., a reelectionist councilor in Umingan, Pangasinan, and a shooting attack that killed a councilor in Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte.
In response to rising election-related violence, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has increased security measures in high-risk areas, implemented gun bans, deployed additional security forces, and placed hotspots under heightened surveillance. Despite these measures, many politically motivated killings remain unresolved, with perpetrators often linked to entrenched political clans and private armed groups.
Law enforcement agencies face challenges in securing volatile regions where local authorities are sometimes complicit in election-related violence.
With elections continuing to be marked by bloodshed, the risk of collateral damage remains high. Civilians, journalists, and law enforcers will likely continue to be caught in the crossfire unless structural reforms address the root causes of political violence.
Without dismantling private armed groups, holding political clans accountable, and ensuring the enforcement of election laws, election periods in the Philippines will remain deadly for both candidates and ordinary citizens.
