BACOLOD CITY – A 36-year-old man was arrested after envelopes allegedly containing cash and sample ballots were found in his possession in a checkpoint on Burgos St., Barangay Lutao, Bacong, Negros Oriental on Saturday, May 10.
Man yields P35,000 cash, sample ballots in Negros Oriental checkpoint
The suspect, Romnick, a resident of Barangay Combado, Bacong, was driving a motorcycle when he was flagged down by the police for not wearing a helmet.
A 36-year-old man was arrested in a police checkpoint for possession of P35,100 cash for alleged vote-buying in Barangay Lutao, Bacong, Negros Oriental on Saturday, May 10. (Photo courtesy of PRO-NIR)
He was asked to present his driver’s license and the motorcycle’s official receipt and certificate of registration.
Romnick opened the motorcycle’s U-box and police saw several white envelopes with cash and sample ballots of candidates in plain view.
He was apprehended and recovered from him were 48 long white envelopes, 39 of them with P900 each in varying denominations, totaling P35,100, and nine envelopes with sample ballots without cash.
Police conducted an inventory of evidence witnessed by barangay officials.
The suspect failed to present any authorization or documentation for them.
He faces cases for violating Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 11104, also known as the Kontra-Bigay policy, in line with the elections.