More than 31,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) nationwide will vote inside the over 400 special polling precincts inside the jail facilities, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said on Wednesday, May 7.

In a news briefing, Bustinera said around 1,000 other PDLs were allowed to cast their votes in their respective polling precincts, outside the BJMP’s jail facilities.

He explained that prior arrangements were made that escorts from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and BJMP will accompany the PDLs voting outside the jail facilities.

However, Bustinera pointed out that at least 80 PDLs cannot vote in the coming midterm elections with some not registered as voters and the others are “newly committed’’ inmates.

Bustinera clarified that representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), PNP and the BJMP will bring the ballots inside the facility, which allows the PDLs to mark their chosen candidates until the 2 p.m. deadline.

At the conclusion of the voting process, Bustinera said the ballot boxes will be transported to the counting machines outside the jail premises, ensuring that they will be brought and the ballots counted accurately.

The BJMP official also asserted that “third party groups’’ are welcome to observe the election process inside the jail facility.

“Similar po sa ating mga community polling precincts ay welcome po yung mga observers, even sa loob ng kulungan and of course subject to security inspection lamang po ito bago pumasok ng jail (Similar to our community polling precincts, observers are welcome even inside the jail facilities and of course subject to security inspection before entering the premises),’’ Bustinera said.

Bustinera also mentioned that seven PDLs are running for various elective posts in the midterm polls, one for senator, the other for vice mayor, another for Congress and the rest vying for slots in the municipal councils.

When asked who the PDL senatorial bet is, Bustinera replied that it is detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Bustinera disclosed that it is up to the courts if the PDL electoral candidates will be allowed to campaign but added that in past two separate experiences court orders were given for them to engage only in “recorded video campaign.’’

When questioned why BJMP-supervised PDLs are allowed to vote, Bustinera cited it is ‘important’ since they are not yet guilty and are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.’’

He furthered that the PDLs’ “right to vote is intact’’ based on the Supreme Court and Comelec rulings, adding that they can chose the leaders “for their best interest.’’

Previously, Bustinera believed that Quiboloy 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.