Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31) — About 90% of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are eligible to vote participated in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Tuesday.
Out of the 29,288 PDLs eligible to vote, 26,268 cast their votes, BJMP chief Ruel Rivera said in a media briefing.
He also said 24,757 inmates were escorted to their voting precincts, while 1,511 others cast their votes in 279 special polling precincts.
Eight PDLs ran for barangay councilor. Three of them have so far garnered the highest number of votes in their respective barangays in Cavite, Rizal, and Cagayan de Oro, the BJMP chief added.
But Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos pointed out, the cases of the PDLs who ran for barangay councilor are still being heard in the courts.
“Habang may hearing pa ‘yan, ating nire-respeto ang kanilang karapatang pantao. Kung acquitted ka, makakapagsilbi sila, lalabas sila. Pero kung ikaw ay guilty, malamang may disqualification ‘yan,” he explained.
