At least 12 men caught carrying firearms in Abra
At least 12 men carrying 12 firearms were arrested by police in Barangay Laskig, Pidigan, Abra on Sunday. The incident unfolded when the police encountered the group arguing by the roadside. Authorities are investigating the possibility that these suspects belong to an armed group.
Lt. Col. Daniel Pel-ey, Abra Police Public Information Officer, expressed concern over the incident. “Pero, at least, sa awa ng Diyos nahuli ang mga ‘yan para makuha na natin at hindi pa magamit ng mga nasabing mga tao,” he said. (But, at least, with the mercy of God they were arrested and will not be used by some people.)
Vote-selling arrests add to election worries
In a separate case in Bangued, two individuals were arrested for alleged vote-selling. Authorities recovered Php 5,000 and campaign materials linked to one political party from them.
One suspect explained, “Napag-utusan lang po ako ng uncle ko na kunin yung para sa kanya dahil hindi siya makapunta sa Bangued.” (I was just instructed by my uncle to get what was meant for him because he could not travel to Bangued.)
Another said she collected the money for her husband who needed medicine due to illness.
Election violence and security measures in Abra
Since the election period began on January 12 until May 11, 2025, Abra police recorded 31 shooting incidents. These include six election-related incidents, resulting in 21 deaths. Authorities have filed eight cases and confiscated 31 firearms so far.
Abra has a history of election-related violence, prompting heightened security measures. Currently, 500 police personnel are deployed in the province, supported by an additional 200 officers. Moreover, five police officers will serve as special electoral board members in four schools after some teachers withdrew—not due to security concerns, but because of distance and travel difficulties.
Some schools are located in remote areas without mobile signal. To address this, Starlink internet service will be used to transmit votes on Election Day. However, as of Sunday, two polling centers remain unconnected to Starlink, according to the Commission on Elections in Abra.
For continuous updates on the election, please refer to official news sources and election coverage.