Combined reports from civilians, field reporters, and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Region VIII (RDRRMC-8), as well as other LGUs, confirm that vote buying and election fraud is indeed prevalent throughout the island, and is often accompanied by acts of violence.

One report cites a killed supporter of Gov Sharee Ann Tan in possession of a bag of money when he was gunned down in Canhumadac, Calbayog City, Samar. The money he carried was allegedly used in vote buying for the aforementioned politician.

An ex-barangay official was also gunned down in Brgy. Libho, Catarman, Northern Samar, and was declared dead upon arrival.

In Hilongos, Leyte, a barangay official of Brgy. Ligas was also shot, but survived with serious wounds. He is now being treated at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

In Merida Leyte, armed men in camouflaged uniform were reported to have been harassing locals in favor of winning bets for a particular candidate, and were arrested by the local police.

Off the coast of Leyte, in Biliran island, four mean in possession of firearms and bladed weapons were arrested by local police, in the village of Haguikhikan.

These blatant shows of power for intimidation in the time of elections has prompted one of the civilians to conclude, “[vote buying] is true Leyte-wide.”