Comelec: Vote-Buying Case in Negros Oriental Dismissed

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A complaint for alleged vote-buying against a 36-year-old man in Bacong, Negros Oriental has been dismissed by the prosecutor’s office, according to Commission on Elections–Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute.

Macute said the case was dropped because the police conducted a warrantless search instead of witnessing the alleged violation in plain view.

The suspect, identified only as “Romnick,” a resident of Barangay Combado in Bacong, was flagged down by police in Barangay Lutao on Saturday, two days before the election, for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.

When asked for his driver’s license and the motorcycle’s official receipt and certificate of registration, the man voluntarily opened the U-box of his motorcycle.

Authorities recovered 48 long white envelopes inside, 39 of which contained PHP900 each in varying denominations, totaling PHP35,100, while the remaining nine held sample ballots without cash.

“When they opened the U-box, it was a violation of the plain view doctrine,” Macute said.

He added that while the case was dismissed locally, the prosecutor’s resolution will be forwarded to the Comelec Law Department for further review.

Macute explained that only the Comelec Law Department can formally pursue charges if it determines there is sufficient ground.

“We have a co-equal jurisdiction with the fiscal,” he said.

The seized materials were turned over to the Comelec, and the suspect was released from police custody.