Comelec holds special voters’ registration for PDLs

“Even if they are behind bars, unless convicted with finality, their constitutional right to suffrage must be upheld,” Catapang said in a statement, citing Comelec’s Resolution No. 9371. (Pexels Photo)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – A special voters’ registration for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) is being held at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) said Monday.

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said there are about 2,431 PDLs allowed to participate in the special registration by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as their cases are still on appeal.

“Even if they are behind bars, unless convicted with finality, their constitutional right to suffrage must be upheld,” Catapang said in a statement, citing Comelec’s Resolution No. 9371.

Under the said resolution, PDLs entitled to avail of detainee voting are those confined in jail or those formally charged for any crime/s and awaiting/undergoing trial; serving a sentence of imprisonment for less than one year; or whose conviction of a crime 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 is on appeal.

Catapang said security arrangement is already in place for this special registration.

Meanwhile, 500 PDLs from the NBP were transferred to San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm on Sunday evening.

Of the said number, 200 are from the maximum security compound, 200 from the medium security compound and 100 from the Reception and Diagnostic Center.

“Since January of this year, we have already transferred 5,770 PDLs from NBP to various operating prisons and penal farms as part of our decongestion program and preparation for the closure of NBP by 2028,” Catapang said in a separate statement.