Comelec Chairman George Garcia has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest individuals caught in the act of buying or selling votes, even in the absence of an arrest warrant.
The poll body chief issued the order a day before the 2025 national and local elections, following social media reports that some individuals were offering to sell their votes.
Garcia also assured that the Comelec “will definitely protect” police officers who may be faced with legal consequences for enforcing a warrantless arrest against vote buyers and sellers, which he pointed out is allowed under the law.
“Our directive to the PNP is to prevent vote buying. We will arrest individuals even in the absence of a warrant, as this is a blatant crime occurring before our eyes,” he said.
He cited a law that warrantless arrests are legal under the 1987 Constitution and the decisions of the Supreme Court, especially if the person being arrested is caught in flagrante delicto or caught in the act of committing a crime.
Garcia also urged the public to take videos of those they catch in the act of vote-buying and vote-selling.
“When you are charged, you will not just face jail time but also perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” he warned.
In February, the poll body issued a resolution allowing law enforcement to arrest vote buyers and sellers without a warrant if they are caught in the act.
Meanwhile, almost 100 vote-buying cases were recorded for the 2025 local and national elections, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) said.
In a radio interview on Sunday, LENTE executive director Atty. Rona Ann Caritos said vote buying was reported from barangay halls, voters’ homes, to last-minute assemblies.
“We should be watchful of the last-ditch efforts of candidates to ensure their victories,” she told Super Radyo dzBB in Filipino.
She also noted that the number of reported vote-buying cases escalated on Friday evening.
Caritos said vote buying remains a significant problem in the Philippine electoral process, especially among local candidates.
As this developed, a woman was arrested in Nueva Ecija stashing PHP1.65 million in cash inside her vehicle, raising suspicion that the money was being used for vote-buying two days before the May 12 polls.
The Science City of Muñoz Police Station personnel flagged down the woman’s car at a Commission on Elections checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion West Saturday morning.
While speaking with the suspect at the checkpoint, police officers noticed a partially opened bag with bundles of cash inside the vehicle.
The woman, a married resident of Barangay Calipahan, Talavara, admitted that the bag contained a large sum of money but was unable to present documentation justifying its possession.
She was immediately taken into police custody for investigation and possible filing of appropriate charges, including violation of Section 28 of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, which prohibits the transport or possession of money exceeding PHP500,000.
The so-called money ban is in effect May 10 to 12.
Police Regional Office-Central Luzon Director Brig. General Jean Fajardo emphasized the significance of the arrest and the importance of strict law enforcement during the elections.
“The interception of such a large amount of cash during the election period is a serious matter that cannot be overlooked,” Fajardo said on Sunday.
