Qualified persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City were able to vote on Monday, May 12, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said.
In a statement, the BuCor said the qualified PDLs voters cast their votes in the special polling precinct of the NBP.
Nationwide, it said the qualified PDLs were also able to vote.
It said that there are 2,135 NBP’s PDLs who were qualified to vote.
It explained that those qualified to vote are PDLs who have cases still undergoing trial; those who are serving a sentence of imprisonment for less than one year; those who are convicted of crimes involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms laws or any crime against national security or for any other crime are on appeal.
Last December, the BuCor signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) “to promote and implement an inclusive voting environment for PDLs this coming 2025 National and Local Election (NLE), Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE), and subsequent elections.”
A total of 4,125 PDLs at BuCor’s prison facilities nationwide were qualified to vote.
Aside from the 2,135 PDLs from NBP, also qualified to vote were 924 from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF); 421 from Leyte Regional Prison (LRP); 290 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga del Sur; 140 from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; 123 from Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City; and 92 from CIW-Mindanao.