Nearly 5,000 PDLs cast votes in Western Visayas midterm polls

Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Iloilo cast their votes during the midterm polls on Monday (May 12, 2025). A total of 1,127 PDLs from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology district jails in Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City and Nanga, Pototan have qualified to cast their votes. Photo: PGLena/Rena Dagoon/Philippine News Agency

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ILOILO CITY— A total of 4,959 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from 40 jails across Western Visayas were able to exercise their right to vote on Monday.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) facilitated the conduct of the elections behind bars. The agency had to bring some automated counting machines into the jails so the PDLs could cast their votes.

The Comelec in Western Visayas is projecting a voter turnout of up to 75 percent in the region.

READ: Over 31000 PDLs to cast votes in the 2025 elections, says BJMP

According to Comelec Regional Director Dennis Ausan, the voter turnout during midterm polls is typically lower compared to national elections such as the presidential polls. He said that if participation drops, the region might register a turnout closer to 70 percent.

Western Visayas has a total of 3,128,562 registered voters across the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo.

Authorities have not reported any election-related violence in Iloilo.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) placed Western Visayas under red alert status for the duration of the election. The red alert—the highest level of emergency preparedness—was declared in anticipation of any untoward incidents during polling.

READ: More than 4,000 PDLs cast their votes, says Comelec

Under this alert, all OCD personnel and disaster response agencies are required to operate 24/7 and remain on standby throughout the election period.

According to Board of Canvassers (BOC) Chair Pinky Jevini Tentativa, the conduct of the elections in Iloilo City was generally smooth, with only minor issues recorded across the 417 polling precincts.

Among the reported concerns were occasional paper jams in the automated counting machines and instances where regular voters attempted to vote during the designated hours for priority groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women.

Despite these incidents, all issues were managed on-site and did not significantly disrupt voting operations. /cfc