BJMP: Almost 80% of inmates cast their votes in midterm polls

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 80 percent of inmates who are registered voters nationwide were able to vote in the May 13 midterm polls, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Tuesday.

According to the BJMP, of 37,534 inmates who are registered voters, 79.50 percent or 29,839 were able to vote in Monday’s elections.

Of those who voted, the BJMP said 27,721 inmates voted in a special polling place inside jail facilities while 2,118 were escorted to vote off-site.

BJMP officer-in-charge Jail Chief Superintendent Allan Iral thanked his personnel for a peaceful and successful elections for the inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“Salamat sa ating mga personnel na naghanda, nagpuyat at nagbantay para maseguro na maayos at payapa ang magiging partisipasyon ng ating mga PDL sa katatapos lamang na halalan,” he said in a statement.

BJMP earlier activated its Task Force “Tutok Halalan” to address regional concerns on “real time basis to generate reports to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).”

According to the BJMP, special polling places were put up in 2017 jail facilities for on-site voters while there were 200 jails with registered off-site voters who were escorted to vote as per existing guidelines of the BJMP on detainee voting.  (Editor: Mike Frialde)