Over 20,000 inmates to vote on May 10 polls

Over 20,000 inmates to vote on May 10 polls

MANILA, Philippines –

More than 20,000 inmates nationwide are expected to vote in the upcoming May 10 elections, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said today.

BJMP director Rosendo Dial said the 24,092 prisoners detained in 414 city, district and municipal jails throughout the country represent 44 percent of the total jail population of 58,766 who registered with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last October 26.

The National Capital Region, which maintains 23 district jails, topped the most number of inmates who are registered voters with 5,677.

But Davao City has the most number of registered inmates in a jail with 1,008 voters, the BJMP chief said.

The Comelec will put up special polling precincts inside jail facilities where there are more than 100 voters, and their respective jail wardens will have to coordinate with the local election officials to set up the polling precincts inside the jail premises.

“There are 302 jails nationwide with more than 100 voters and the Comelec will have to set up special precincts in these jails,” he added.

Meanwhile, in jails with less than 100 voters, inmates will be escorted to their respective polling precincts where they will cast their votes as soon as voting starts.

Dial said that although special polling precincts will be installed in jails, the counting of ballots will be done in the respective polling precincts.

Under the law, inmates who are qualified to vote include those whose cases are pending trial, or convicted but the case is on appeal, as well as convicted inmates spending only less than one year in prison.

- By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)