Inmates allowed to register for polls

Politicians may soon find themselves wooing inmates in the coming May 2004 elections after a non-governmental organization succeeded in securing court permission to have several detainees at the Quezon City Jail validated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Described by Preso Foundation president Fr. Tony Ranada as perhaps a historic first, some 500 – out of as much as 2,800 detention prisoners — lined up before data capturing machines of the Comelec at the Bernardo Park in Kamuning, Quezon City near the Quezon City Jail.

The registration has been scheduled up to this weekend from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Not all inmates, though, could register after some of the Quezon City courts turned down the petition due to security fears.

Ranada said they had to file petitions to 58 Quezon City judges to allow the inmates, whose cases are pending before them, to register.

Ranada explained that those in detention, as distinguished from convicted felons, still enjoy the right to vote.

"It is a right and we actualized it," said Ranada whose members include human rights lawyers.

Detention prisoners are those who are not able to pose bail or those having pending criminal charges. Only those convicted with finality are stripped of their right to vote, he explained.

The Comelec does not at the moment allow registration within prison facilities so allowing them to come out to register required a court approval.

Out of the 58 judges, Ranada said, about six have so far given their permission with some giving additional security instructions to make sure that no one takes advantage of the situation.

"Security was tight. As early as 7:30 a.m., Bernardo Park was cleared and secured," said Ranada. "Some of the judges did not give their permission because they could be sanctioned administratively if any of the inmates escape. I had to personally reason out with some of them."

He said they expect more judges to issue an approval, enabling more of the inmates to register during the weekend. The Comelec validation of voters is scheduled up to Dec. 12 and more inmates from other places soon follow.