The Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recently approved the execution of arrests without warrants for individuals involved in vote-buying, vote-selling, and the misuse of state resources during elections. This decision was outlined in Resolution 11104, which was officially released on January 28 and announced to the public on Monday. According to the resolution, law enforcement officers are permitted to arrest anyone caught in the act of these electoral offenses without needing a warrant. The arrested individuals must be promptly taken to the nearest police station or jail for further legal proceedings. Additionally, any materials involved in these offenses, such as money, goods, sample ballots, and campaign materials, will be seized and documented by the arresting officer. The documentation process includes a physical inventory, photography, and marking of the seized items, which must be done in the presence of the arrested person and any available witnesses. The handling and custody of these items from seizure to their presentation in court must be meticulously recorded as per existing legal standards. Vote buying is defined as offering money or valuables to influence voting, while vote selling involves accepting such offers in exchange for votes. The misuse of state resources, known as abuse of state resources (ASR), includes using government assets for electoral gain.
Philippine Election Commission Authorizes Arrests Without Warrants for Electoral Offenses
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