Comelec tells PNP: Arrest vote buyers

'Warrantless arrest allowed'

- MAYEN JAYMALIN

Amid a surge in vote buying incidents, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) that those engaging in such illegal activities can be arrested even without a warrant.

The poll body has directed the PNP to strictly comply with the Comelec resolution upholding the legality of warrantless arrests in connection with the midterm polls.

"We are once again reminding the PNP, as our deputized agent, to stop the act of vote buying. They can arrest people even without a warrant because that is an outright crime being committed right in front of us," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday.

Under the Comelec resolution, any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when, in the presence of such officer, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an election offense such as vote buying.

The Comelec reiterated that non-compliance with the directive is valid ground for criminal and administrative liability.

Garcia said vote buying was rampant because no arrests are being made, with the PNP Legal Service even coming out with an issuance that prohibits warrantless arrests.

Garcia, however, stressed that the 1987 Constitution, Supreme Court ruling as well as Comelec rules allow warrantless arrests, particularly those caught in the act of committing a crime.

"We are please asking the PNP, show people that we will not allow vote buying, and we will definitely protect you when you do your job right," he said.

Garcia said the poll body has so far received 500 reports of vote-buying incidents nationwide.

He said out of the 500, the Comelec has issued over 200 show-cause orders against the candidates allegedly involved in those vote-buying incidents.