Two people were killed and seven others were injured in a shooting incident in Silay City, Negros Occidental on election day, police said. 

MANILA — At least 20 people were killed in 49 validated election-related incidents (ERIs), the Philippine National Police said Thursday.

PNP spokesperson BGen. Jean Fajardo said most of the fatalities were recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) that logged the highest number of ERIs at 15.

There were eight ERIs in Bangsamoro and six in Calabarzon.

At least 31 people were injured in incidents related to Monday's elections, she added.

Faardo said the PNP was looking into 51 other incidents that occurred on election day, May 12, to determine whether they were related to the polls.

Five died and 13 were injured on election day.

Despite the ERIs, Fajardo said 2025 midterm elections showed a considerably improved security landscape, with a decline in recorded violence compared to the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) that had 105 incidents.

However, the ERIs during this year’s national and local polls are higher compared to the 27 reported during the 2022 presidential elections.

“Itong generally peaceful po na pagsasagawa po ng eleksyon sa buong bansa po ay maia-attribute po natin sa mahaba po nating naging pagsasanay, mahaba pong pagpaplano kasama po natin ang ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at itong ating mga forward deployment po doon sa mga areas of concern,” Fajardo told reporters in a media briefing at Camp Olivas.

The PNP on Wednesday downgraded its alert status from full alert to heightened, reducing the police deployment to 75 percent following the conclusion of voting and proclamation of some candidates.

Meanwhile, the election gun ban will remain in effect until June 11, marking the end of the 2025 election period.