42,252 inmates can vote in May

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 42,252 inmates nationwide will be allowed to vote on May 9, a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer said yesterday.

Jail Inspector Xavier Awican Solda told The STAR that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the BJMP are in the process of finalizing the rules and policies for detainee registration and voting, although he added that the provisions in the 2013 elections would most likely be implemented.

Comelec Resolution 9371 states that detainees can vote through a special polling place inside jails or escorted to vote elsewhere if the registration record is not transferred, deactivated, canceled or deleted.

Solda explained that if a jail facility has more than 100 inmates and the polling precincts are far, the detainees can vote within the jail complex.

However, if there are fewer than 100 inmates, they will be escorted to the nearest polling precincts. An exclusive lane will be created for them for security reasons.

He gave assurance that maximum security would be provided for personnel and inmates, especially in areas considered as election hot spots, having coordinated the activity with the police and the military.

The BJMP, he added, recognizes the prisoners’ right to vote and must ensure a safe and secured voting process for them.

This is the third time that Comelec allows detainees to vote. The first was in 2010 with 17,000 detained registered voters followed with 27,105 in 2013.

The BJMP has informed its regional directors and would conduct simultaneous education orientations for inmates and personnel once the rules and regulations for the 2016 elections are finalized.