The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that 68,448 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are registered to vote in the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.
Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino stated that most of these PDLs will vote within their detention facilities, while 993 will be escorted to their respective precincts to cast their ballots.
“Mas marami yung PDLs na doon mismo sa kanilang facility boboto kesa sa escorted voters,” Ferolino said, noting that it is more practical to have fewer escorted voters due to logistical challenges in transporting detainees.
Legal Rights of PDL Voters
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia highlighted that PDLs retain their right to vote as long as their crimes have no final judgment of conviction.
“Regardless ng nature of crime, kahit light offense, medium o tinatawag na crimes punishable by life imprisonment, kahit pa heinous ang classification, ay entitled makaboto hanggang walang final judgement of conviction,” Garcia explained.
This initiative is part of a collaborative effort among the Comelec, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on Thursday.
The move underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring the political rights of PDLs while balancing logistical and security considerations.