THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has been authorized to conduct warrantless arrests for individuals caught engaging in vote buying or selling during the campaign and election period for the May 2025 elections, an election official said Wednesday.

Lawyer Maria Dulce Cuevas Guanzon, assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec-10), announced the measure during a ceremony at Camp Vicente Alagar marking the launch of the 100-day operational activities and Solidarity Pact for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections.

Guanzon cited the need to strengthen enforcement against illegal campaign practices, expressing confidence in the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to uphold security measures.

“The campaign period will start February 12 for the national elections and March 28 for the local positions so that means we have to strengthen the implementation of campaign rules and regulations. If you see anyone doing illegal stuff or unlawful stuff please arrest them,” said Guanzon adding “kay ingon ra ba commission nga pwede na ang warrantless arrest , so good luck sa atong tanan nga pwede na ang warrantless arrest.”

WARRANTLESS ARRESTS. Police Regional Director for Region 10, Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman, signs the Solidarity Pact on Wednesday (Feb. 5) to mark the launch of 100 days of operational activities for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

Guanzon further warned politicians about adhering to rules on campaign materials, noting that violations such as posting in undesignated areas or using oversized materials are unlawful.

Police Regional Office-10 Director Police Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman said the PNP will coordinate closely with Comelec to ensure proper implementation of warrantless arrests.

“Magkakaroon tayo nang coordinating council para masiguro natin na kung magkaroon man tayo nang arrests just like our assistant regional director (Guanzon) said, maging tama,” said De Guzman.

“Dapat kung nag arrest tayo, isasampa ang kaso, kung walang basis it will be dismiss [sic]. We have to harmonize the details how to effect this arrest,” the De Guzman added.

The warrantless arrest policy for vote buying and selling is authorized under Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code.