BAGUIO CITY – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the Cordillera Administrative Region (BJMP-CAR) is stepping up efforts to ensure that Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.
JSSupt. Atty. Kenneth A. Bid-ing, Regional Director of the Jail Bureau, has ordered all jail units in the region to prioritize preparations for a safe and orderly election process. “We are dedicated to ensuring that qualified PDLs can vote. Their situation should not hinder them from enjoying their constitutional rights,” he said.
Since June 2024, BJMP-CAR has partnered with local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) offices to carry out satellite voter registration activities inside jail facilities. These initiatives aim to make registration more accessible to eligible PDLs, resulting in 640 registrants across 12 jail units, more than triple the number from the previous national election cycle.
To avoid the logistical and security challenges of transporting inmates to polling centers, BJMP-CAR will set up special polling precincts within selected jails. The agency is also coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to boost security, particularly in larger facilities, by deploying additional personnel, conducting surveillance, and drafting contingency plans.
Under COMELEC rules, only PDLs who have not been convicted by final judgment are allowed to vote. To inform and guide eligible voters, the bureau has launched a voter education campaign in partnership with COMELEC. The campaign includes orientation sessions and printed materials to help PDLs understand the voting process and their rights.
In the 2022 elections, 206 PDLs in the region cast their votes. With more aggressive registration drives, in-jail voting setups, and stronger inter-agency coordination, BJMP-CAR expects higher participation in 2025.
For BJMP-CAR, the initiative is more than an operational task; it’s part of a broader commitment to democratic inclusion, even for those behind bars. By JO1 Eden Faith S. Fataner
