Manila, April 30 -- Yesterday, a party list nominee was shot and killed along a busy street in Metro Manila. A few days ago, a mayoralty candidate in Cagayan Province was also shot and killed. Though the reason for these killings has yet to be determined, these incidents along with other incidents of violence that have occurred during this election period have once again marred what was hoped to be a less violent election cycle this time around.

Incidents of violence during Philippine elections are nothing new. It is a persistent problem brought about by extreme competition among various political forces both at the national and local level. These incidents of election violence involve not only candidates but leaders and political operat...