BJMP ready to secure voting in jails, chief assures

An inmate voting inside a BJMP jail facility for the 2022 elections (Photo from the BJMP).

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) assured the public on Monday, election day, that it is ready to secure the jails where over 30,000 inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) will be casting their votes.

According to BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral, the facilities of the bureau are well prepared not only to ensure that no violent incident erupts, but also to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Siguruhin natin na magiging maayos ang pagboto ng ating mga PDL at wala tayong anumang insidente sa ating mga pasilidad,” Iral said in a statement.

A total of 33,409 PDLs are expected to cast their vote, of which 29,534 are male while 3,875 are female.  BJMP spokesperson Jail Supt. Xavier Solda said this is equivalent to 39.2% of the 131,021 jail population in the 475 district, city, and municipal jails nationwide.

Of the 33,409 PDL voters, 30,726 will vote onsite while 2,683 will vote offsite.

A huge chunk of the inmate voters are from the  Cebu City Jail – Male Dormitory with 1,102 PDLs, followed by the following facilities:

Talisay City Jail – Male Dormitory – 878 PDLs
Lapu-lapu City Jail – Male Dormitory – 701 PDLs
Antipolo City Jail – Male Dormitory – 576 PDLs
Bacoor City Jail – Male Dormitory – 534 PDLs

The BJMP said PDL voters are only allowed to vote for national candidates, just like overseas and local absentee voters.

The bureau also assured that inmates with body temperatures higher than 37.4 degrees Celsius would still be allowed to vote, but they would be asked to do it inside an isolation polling place inside the jail facility, which may be a clinic.

/MUF