PNP Chief, Director General Alan LM Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Even the country’s main law enforcement unit is cool to the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) “money ban.”
The Philippine National Police said enforcing the ban would be tricky.
“Is it a crime? It (Comelec order) would be difficult to enforce,” PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima told reporters at Camp Crame.
“First of all, we’re talking about money here. A person might claim that a big amount of cash (was seized from him) just to get back at the law enforcers,” he said.
He said the PNP still had to study Comelec Resolution No. 9688, which Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. claimed would help authorities curb vote-buying.
“We will study how we should implement it. If policemen accost a person, the violator may turn the tables against our men and accuse us of illegal arrest if we cannot immediately file a case,” he said.