A total of 473 special polling precincts will be open for qualified persons deprived of liberty (PDls) voters from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the May 12 midterm elections, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) stated.
In an exclusive interview, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera noted that as of 9:50 a.m. a total of 17,320 PDLs have voted “on-site” while 1,168 PDLs cast their votes “off-site.”
Earlier, Bustinera noted that the special polling precincts situated inside the BJMP’s supervised jails will cater to 31,715 qualified PDL voters.
In addition, Bustinera revealed that seven PDLs got the nod of the Commission on Election (Comelec) to vie for electoral posts, most notably Pastor Apollo Quiboloy who is running for senator.
Quiboloy is currently detained at the Pasig City Male Dormitory.
Out of the seven PDLs, one is eyeing a seat in Congress, another is seeking a mayoral post, two are vying for vice-mayor, and two are aiming for council seats.
In a press briefing, Bustinera clarified that the PDLs in the 473 special polling precincts will have to vote inside the facilities where they are detained.
“’Yong mga facility lang na may 50 and less registered voters lang ang pabobotohin sa labas ng kulungan, of course with escorts (The jail facilities with 50 or less registered voters will be allowed to vote outside the jails, of course with escorts),” Bustinera pointed out.
Bustinera explained that the PDLs voting outside the BJMP’s special polling facilities must first secure their respective court orders.
In the case of Pasig City Jail PDL Quiboloy, Bustinera believed that he may have a difficult time securing a court order being a registered voter of Davao City.
The BJMP supervised jail with the PDl voters are the Zamboanga City Jail Male Dorm (1,088) followed by the Iloilo City Jail Male Dormitory (954) and Manila City Jail Male Dormitory (927).
Bustinera noted that the Bacoor City Jail Male Dormitory has 694 PDL voters and the Metro Bacolod District Jail Annex has 588 PDL voters.
Currently, the BJMP supervises 484 jail facilities nationwide.