A total of 2,683 of the 33,409 registered Deprived of Liberty (PDL) voters in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons Management and Penology (BJMP) will vote outside their prisons on May 9.

Spokesperson for BJMP Jail Supt. Xavier Solda said most PDLs, a total of 30,726, will vote “on the spot” or at special polling stations at their jai facilities.

He stressed that PDLs voting “off-site” will be escorted by BJMP staff where they will be guided to the special lanes designated for them at polling stations.

Solda explained that PDL voting outside prison facilities is covered by the appropriate court order.

He added that the officials of the Electoral Commission (Comelec) will supervise the voting process of the PDLs inside the prison facilities of the BJMP.

To ensure the orderly off-site voting process of the PDLs, Solda noted that the BJMP has “a route” to the polling stations where the detainees will proceed.

At BJMP facilities, Solda said relevant government agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be deployed to increase the bureau’s “security requirements” at its prisons located in remote and remote areas. areas.

The BJMP spokesperson pointed out that the conduct of simulations, the continuous information and education campaign of the PDLs and the coordination with Comelec officials in isolated towns have been intensified to solve previous problems in recent years. elections and guide prison staff for a problem-free LDP. voting exercise.

Meanwhile, Solda also revealed that as of May 7, not even a single BJMP detainee has had Covid-19 for over a month now.

So far, Solda highlighted that 127,097 out of 130,982 PDLs or 97.03% are vaccinated against Covid-19 with 122,864 (93.8%) fully inoculated. He added that 93,605 PDLs or 71.46% have already received their reminders against the virus.

Apart from the Covid-19 shots, Solda revealed that BJMP PDLs also received flu and pneumofocal shots in addition to their daily vitamin requirements.

Solda called on the families of PDLs voting outside their prisons to let them vote unhindered, as contactless visits to Tier 1 alert areas will resume after the elections.

He pointed out that electronic visits are in place for the use of families of LDPs.

Immediately after the “off-site” vote in the special corridors of the voting areas, Solda said that the PDLs would immediately be taken back to the BJMP prisons. (Chito A. Chavez)

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