Election-related violence leaves 19 dead in Philippines

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – At least 19 people were killed and as many injured during local elections in the Philippines, a poll body official said on Tuesday.

Rex Laudiangco, spokesman of the Commission on Elections, said that authorities recorded 29 violent incidents on Aug. 28-Oct. 30, when elections were conducted in different phases.

Most of the incidents were reported in the southern autonomous Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Bicol region, Laudiangco told CNN Philippines.

Some 113 more violent incidents are being probed to determine whether those are connected to the elections.

The elections were originally set for 2020 but were postponed twice.

Some 672,432 seats were up for grabs in the polls.