The complaint filed against a Bacong, Negros Oriental, resident arrested with sample ballots and money has been dismissed by the prosecutor’s office, a Commission on Elections official said on Sunday, May 11.
The complaint was dismissed because the evidence was not recovered in plain view at a checkpoint, but in a U-box of a motorcycle and inside envelops, Assistant Elections Regional Director Jossil Macute of the Negros Island Region said.
Comelec checkpoint inspections manned by police and military personnel are limited by the plain view doctrine.
Romnick Viola Adalim, 36, a resident of Brgy. Combado in Bacong was arrested by Regional Mobile Force Battalion – Negros Island Region (RMFB-NIR) operatives at a checkpoint at Burgos Street, Brgy. Lutao, Bacong, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, May 10.
He was arrested after they seized sample ballots with money from him presumed to be used for vote-buying.
During the checkpoint, the suspect was flagged down by the police for not wearing a helmet.
When asked to present his driver’s license and vehicle documents, the suspect opened the motorcycle’s U-box and the police saw several white envelopes containing cash and sample ballots with names of candidates running in the 2025 National and Local Elections. the police said.
Seized from Adalim where 48 long white envelopes with 39 containing P900 each in various denominations totaling P35,100 and 9 containing sample ballots without cash, the police added.
The suspect failed to present any authorization or documentation for possessing the said materials and was arrested for violating “Kontra-Bigay” policy, in connection with the upcoming elections, the police said.*