The Commission on Elections is set to come this month with new rules on vote-buying and vote-selling and it may come with a citizen’s arrest.
At the Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang, Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said this was after a temporary committee was revitalized into a Committee on ‘Anti-Kontra Bigay’, which will be headed by Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr.
The guidelines, Laudiangco said will aid law enforcement and prosecution officials in pinning down those who would engage in vote-buying or vote-selling, and will be implemented in the coming 30 October Barangay and SK Elections.
“Asahan ninyo po sa mga susunod na linggo na ilalabas na po ang resolusyong ito na mas magiging deterrent po at hinihiling at inaasahan namin na magiging susi para po tayo ay makapag-prosecute at makapagpakulong po ng mga lalabag sa Section 261-A ng Omnibus Election Code,” the poll spokesman said.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said it may include a ‘warrantless arrest’.
Garcia announced this during the signing of a memorandum of Agreement among the poll body, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard where all agencies committed to do their best for a fair and peaceful elections on 30 October.
He said they will allow warrantless arrest for those who will be caught in the act of buying or selling votes during the campaign period to stop the practice of vote-buying starting at the Barangay and SK Elections.
“In the guidelines that we will issue, we will allow the PNP to arrest if the person is caught in the act. We will authorize that now with the full backing of the Comelec because it is our belief that under our Constitution warrantless arrest is allowed,” he said.