COMELEC issues warrantless arrest rule for election crimes

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has issued Resolution 11104 allowing warrantless arrests for vote-buying, vote-selling, and abuse of state resources during election periods.

Law enforcement officers can now make immediate arrests if they witness these offenses being committed without the need for a warrant.

Materials such as money, campaign materials, and sample ballots used in these crimes will be seized by arresting officers who must conduct an inventory immediately with photographs taken and items marked in the presence of witnesses.

The resolution mandates strict regulation over the movement and custody of seized items from confiscation to court presentation as evidence.

COMELEC has also printed nine million ballots within a week and plans to use additional verification machines starting today onwards, aiming to improve ballot verification efficiency.