Five people have been killed while 45 others have been arrested since the election period began on January 13, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).All five were killed in various checkpoint operations in Central Luzon.In a report obtained by The Manila Times from Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3), two motorcycle riding-suspects were killed in a checkpoint on January 13 in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.One motornapping suspect was killed on the same day in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija after he ignored a checkpoint.Two motornapping suspects were killed on January 14 in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija for the same offense.Of the 45 arrested, 20 were at checkpoints -- four to be served search warrants, 11 by police patrols, and five in other law enforcement operations like Oplan Bakal, Oplan Sita, and Oplan Galugad.Majority of these arrests occurred in Metro Manila.At least 47 firearms and 311 other improvised weapons and replicas were seized.The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have conducted 414 joint checkpoint operations while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has conducted 6,264.The PNP started placing checkpoints in strategic areas across the country since the start of the election period as a way to counter election-related violent incidents.
