MANILA — More than 3,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) nationwide were able to vote on Monday, May 12.

At the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, 1,423 PDLs voted,  of which, 902 were from the maximum security compound of the national penitentiary. 

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia and other Comelec officials went to NBP to oversee the PDLs voting.

Nationwide, Garcia told reporters that there are a total of 3,446 registered PDLs in different penal colonies run by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). 

Foreign observers according to Garcia visited the BuCor to see the voting process, however they were not allowed to get near or interview any of the PDLs who casted votes.

“Galing dito yung observer mission mula sa ibat-ibang bansa….pinakita natin sa kanila na hindi problema na makapasok dito, kaya lang sabi natin, dapat hindi lalapitan yung atin mga botante habang sila ay bumoboto at irespeto man lang at hindi kinakausap,” said Garcia.

Garcia explained, PDLs can still vote every election as long as they are registered voter and their cases have no finality yet.

“Ibig sabihin, kahit ano ang kalagayan nila dito, hanggang nakaapela ang kanilang kaso o kasalakuyang dinidinig silang lahat ay makakaboto, nakakaboto, sapagkat ang sinabi ng batas, hangga't walang final judgement of conviction, makakaboto ang isang tao. Jalosjos vs Comelec yan,” Garcia explained.

“Dito sa NBP, lahat ito ay dito pinaboto, kasi nga more than 50 yung lahat ng botante dito, kaya mas minarapat natin na dito na lang pabotohin. Kaya yung lahat ng balota nila, mamaya ay dadalhin naman sa ibat-ibang presinto kung saan sila registered voters at ito ay ipi-feed sa mga makina,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, there are precedents wherein a candidate during the Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) was able to run and win the race.

At the Valenzuela City Jail 61 PDLs also voted. The voting happened from 6:45 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.