Over 68,000 PDLs allowed to vote in 2025 polls, says Comelec

The signing of a memorandum agreement of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros. —Photo by Dianne Sampang | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Over 68,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) can vote in the 2025 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

A total of 68,448 PDLs are registered voters, Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement of the Comelec, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

Ferolino also noted that 993 PDLs would be escorted to vote in their precinct polls.

According to BJMP Director Ruel Rivera, around 57,000 inmates from the BJMP registered to vote for the 2025 polls with the help of BuCor, PAO, and Comelec. He also pointed out that this figure is higher than the 29,000 PDLs who registered for the 2022 elections.

READ: BJMP: Over 26,000 PDLs exercised voting rights in barangay polls

Further, Rivera underscored that the agreement was a commitment to uphold the right to suffrage of the PDLs.

“This is a giant leap to ensure the rights of the persons deprived of liberty in our country because they will be allowed to vote for the leaders who will serve for the next three years,” Rivera said in Filipino in his speech.

The same sentiment was echoed by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, who said that the agreement underscoresd the importance of voting in upholding democracy.

“Regardless of the nature of the crime, whether it is a light, medium offense, or crime punishable by lifetime imprisonment. Even if the crime is classified as heinous, they can still vote until there is no final judgment of conviction,” Garcia said in Filipino.

“It goes to show that we uplift the rights of everyone in the country — rich, poor, or even those who are jailed or free,” he added.

Garcia also shared that the poll body would allow the posting of campaign paraphernalia inside the cells for the PDLs to know who they would vote for.

“As to how the candidates can campaign, the best way can be leaving paraphernalia… Even the Comelec has guides and instructions… It is right that we can have a voters’ education corner in the BuCor or BJMP.” he added.

READ: DILG identifies 38 hotspots ahead of 2025 polls

Challenges encountered

Ferolino shared that the agencies encountered logistic problems during the voting procedures of the PDLs in the last elections. She also said that the PDLs must be prioritized to return to their cells immediately.

“We have prepared because we have determined the resources we have to provide to transport the ballots and the PDLs themselves, especially in the escorted voting, including the manpower,” Ferolino said.

According to Rivera, the BJMP has 25,000 personnel to assist PDLs in escorted voting. Meanwhile, the agency will be on red alert inside its facilities before, during, and the day after the elections.

“We now have a list of who will be escorted and what time they will leave and return,” Rivera said.