BJMP ready for voting of more than 33K PDLs for Eleksyon 2022

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Saturday said it is ready for the voting of more than 33,000 persons deprived of liberty who are registered voters on Monday, May 9, Election Day.

BJMP spokesperson Colonel Xavier Solda said during the Laging Handa public briefing that the total number of registered voters among PDLs detained in its facilities is 33,409.

Of this number, 30,726 PDLs will vote on-site at special polling precincts located inside jail facilities. 

Meanwhile, 2,683 PDLs will vote off-site at polling precincts outside BJMP facilities.

"Tuloy-tuloy ang inspeksiyon na ginagawa ng National Headquarters at mga regional offices sa mga jail facilities. Bahagi ito ng paghahanda para sa PDL voting this Monday, May 9," Solda said.

(The National Headquarters and regional offices are continuously conducting inspections of jail facilities. This is part of the preparations for the PDL voting this Monday, May 9.)

Solda also said the BJMP has conducted a dry-run of the voting of PDLs on-site and off-site.

The BJMP has also conducted voters information and education among PDLs.

Solda also said the BJMP has had "coordination with Comelec [Commission on Elections] officials hanggang doon sa mga munisipyo at bayan (even in municipalities and towns) in remote provinces to guide our personnel to facilitate camp and PDL voting."

PDLs who will vote off-site will be escorted by BJMP personnel. They will also use special lanes designated for them in precincts, he added.

Solda said PDLs voting off-site have appropriate court orders allowing them to leave jail facilities to cast their votes.

The BJMP has also coordinated with the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to augment their security, Solda said.

Solda appealed to families of PDLs who will vote off-site to allow the PDLs to exercise their right to vote and not form a crowd around them.

"After voting, deretso silang ibabalik sa facilities natin. After election naman, may non-contact visitation sa [Alert] Level 1 areas at electronic visitation na puwedeng i-avail ng pamilya," he said.

(After voting, they will be brought back to our facilities. After election, families can avail of the non-contact visitation in Alert Level 1 areas and electronic visitation.)

Solda said no COVID-19 case has been recorded among PDLs for more than a month already.

He also said that of the 130,982 PDLs in BJMP facilities, 97.03% are already vaccinated against COVID-19, with 93.8% fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 71.46% have already received a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The PDLs have also been given pneumococcal and flu vaccines, as well as vitamins.

These are part of the BJMP's preparations to ensure PDLs are healthy and ready for Eleksyon 2022, Solda said. —KG, GMA News