
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) disclosed that 393 special polling precincts are now in place and ready to be used by 31,715 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are qualified to vote for the May 12 midterm elections.
In addition, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera noted that seven PDLs got the nod of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to vie for an electoral post.
Most notable of them is detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy who is running for senator and currently detained at the Pasig City Male Dormitory.
Other PDLs include one who 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 393 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 (Only the jail facilities with 50 or less registered voters will be allowed to have the voting process outside the jails, of course with escorts),” Bustinera said on Friday, April 25.
A total of 31,251 out of the 31,715 qualified PDL voters are considered on-site voters.
Bustinera explained that a total of 464 PDLs (435 male and 29 female) have already secured their respective court orders and are assigned to an off-site voting precinct.
In the case of Pasig City Jail PDL Quiboloy, Bustinera believes that the detained pastor may have a difficult time securing a court order being a registered voter of Davao City.
Among the jail facilities supervised by the BJMP with the highest number of PDL voters are the Zamboanga City Jail Male Dorm (1,088), Iloilo City Jail Male Dormitory (954), and Manila City Jail Male Dormitory (927).
Meanwhile, the Bacoor City Jail Male Dormitory has 694 PDL voters while the Metro Bacolod District Jail Annex has 588 PDL voters.
Currently, the BJMP supervises 484 jail facilities nationwide.