Man arrested for suspected vote buying with PHP35,100 in envelopes

A man was arrested in Bacong town, Negros Oriental on Saturday afternoon for suspected vote buying after police found envelopes containing cash and sample ballots in his motorcycle.

Romnick Adalim, 36, was stopped by RMFB-NIR officers around 2:35 p.m. for not wearing a helmet and subsequently arrested when he opened the U-box of his motorcycle revealing white envelopes with PHP900 each.

A total of 39 envelopes were found containing PHP35,100 in cash and featuring names of candidates running for positions in the May 12 elections.

Adalim was brought to the Bacong Police Station where an inventory was conducted on the recovered materials. Authorities have since released him pending formal charges under Comelec Resolution No. 11104.

Poll watchers in Negros Oriental over the weekend also began preparing for Monday's national and local elections, with automated counting machines and official ballots delivered to polling centers.