MANILA (UPDATE) — Some Persons Deprived of Liberty exercised their right to vote in Monday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

At least 7 PDLs voted at the Taguig National High School before 8 a.m. Personnel of the Taguig police and of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology stood guard while they voted.

• Nasa 2,000 bilanggo ng Bilibid nagparehistro para sa brgy, SK elections

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier said a total of 31,125 PDLs would cast their votes in the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to Comelec rules, inmates who are formally charged and are awaiting trial, and those serving prison sentences of less than a year are qualified to vote in the local polls.

Of the PDL voters, 29,133 would vote inside the special polling precincts within BJMP jails, while 1,992 would be escorted by jail officers to their barangays.

“Makasaysayan ito dahil ngayon pa lang sila magpa-participate sa barangay elections. This is very historic. Ito’y dahil sa Supreme Court decision noong August 26, 2002 na sinasabing unless convicted by final judgment, all PDLs have a constitutional right to vote,” Abalos said.

(This is historic because this is the first time for PDLs to participate in barangay elections.)

Abalos directed BJMP Director Ruel Rivera to ensure orderly and peaceful voting by the PDLs in their respective designated precincts during election day.

OVER 300 PDLs VOTE AT MANILA CITY JAIL

Meanwhile, a total of 303 PDLs at the Manila City Jail cast their votes for BSKE. Of this figure, 278 are males and 25 are females.

"Recka" and "Mamu" were among the PDLs who exercised their right to vote.

“Masaya kasi bilang isang PDL na nasa loob ng piitan, kami ay binigyan ng karapatan upang piliin ang karapat-dapat na mamuno sa barangay namin na nasasakupan niya. Masaya kami kasi hindi kami hinigpitan para makapili kami ng barangay chairman at mga taong mamumuno sa amin,” Recka said.

(I am happy because we were allowed our right to choose deserving leaders for our barangay. We are happy because they did not restrict us in choosing our barangay chairman and the people who will lead us.)

“Sa paglaya namin sa piitang ito, wala naman kaming ibang matatakbuhan kundi ang barangay na uuwian namin. Sila rin ang tatanggap sa amin," she told reporters.

(When we are released from here, we really only have our barangay to go home to. It will be them who will welcome us back.)

The PDLs at the Manila City Jail are among the thousands of inmates nationwide who are eligible to vote inside special polling precincts within the jail.

“Ang boboto na ihahatid sa labas… wala pang six months sa kulungan o hindi umabot ng 50 ang kanilang presinto,” said Abalos.

(Those who will brought to polling centers outside will be those who have been in detention for less than six months or those in special precincts with fewer than 50 voters.)

Abalos and Rivera visited the Manila City Jail to ensure the seamless execution of the voting process there.

As of 10 a.m., some 11,000 PDLs nationwide have cast their ballots, the BJMP said.

Rivera said that only detainees win good medical condition are allowed out. They would be brought to the polling centers under escort and would have special lanes.

“Kasama po sila sa vulnerable sector. Pagdating, mabibigyan sila agad ng linya para doon,” said Rivera.

(They will line up with those in the vulnerable sector. When they get there, they will be given the special line to use.)

The BJMP chief noted that videos of the candidates’ campaign platforms were shown to the PDLs to help them choose their political leaders.

The Manila City Jail also designated a common poster area for candidates.

Abalos said that, aside from voting, the PDLs were allowed to run in the BSKE.

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“Hindi lang ito karapatang bumoto ng ating kapatid na nasa piitan. Ang karapatan ding tumakbo ay atin ding ginagalang. In fact, walo sa ating PDLs ang tumatakbo ngayon: 6 for barangay kagawad at 2 for barangay chairman,” said Abalos.

“’Yan talaga. Kung mananalo ka, ‘yan ang proseso ng demokrasya, pero you still have to wait for the judgment. Kung ‘yung judgment ay palalayain ka, okay, lalo kung dismissed ang kaso," he said.

According to the Comelec rules, inmates who are formally charged and awaiting trial and those serving prison sentences of less than a year are qualified to vote in the local polls.

Earlier this month, the Comelec signed a deal with the BJMP and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on the implementation of PDLs voting for the BSKE.

“Makasaysayan ito dahil ngayon pa lang sila magpa-participate sa barangay elections. This is very historic. Ito’y dahil sa Supreme Court decision noong August 26, 2002 na sinasabing unless convicted by final judgment, all PDLs have a constitutional right to vote,” Abalos said.

“Ang BJMP nagkaroon ng MOA with Comelec and PAO para mas maganda ang exercise ngayong umaga," he added.

Of the 31,000 PDL voters, 29,133 will vote inside the special polling precincts within BJMP jails, while 1,992 will be escorted by jail officers in their respective registered precincts in barangays.

— With reports from Bianca Dava and Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News