2 Arrested in Capiz for Taking Ballot Photos

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino

Two men were arrested in Capiz on May 12 for taking photos of their completed ballots while voting.

The incidents happened in the morning at Sinondojan Primary School in Barangay Sinondojan, Mambusao town.

Police identified the suspects as alias Rafael, 34, a barangay tanod, and alias Hernanie, 57, a security guard, both residents of the village.

A poll watcher caught Rafael taking a photo of his ballot at 8:30 a.m.

Another poll watcher witnessed Hernanie doing the same at 9:20 a.m.

Both violations were immediately reported to Irma Vista Laging, head of the Board of Election Inspectors.

Laging called duty officers Corporals Edzel Bugo and Jestel Dan Deocampo, who took the suspects into custody.

Police said the men violated Section 36, paragraph (f) of Commission on Elections Resolution No. 11076.

The rule prohibits the use of image-capturing devices—such as phones or cameras—to record or replicate the contents of the ballot.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 6, said both suspects are detained and will be charged accordingly.

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old woman died while voting in Barangay Marita, President Roxas, Capiz, on the morning of May 12.

The woman, identified only as alias Nene, collapsed while shading her ballot.

She was attended to by responders from the President Roxas Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

She was rushed to Bailan District Hospital in Pontevedra, where she was later declared dead.

The attending physician confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack.

Pontevedra police are investigating the incident.