Over 68,000 PDLs registered to vote in Eleksyon 2025

More than 68,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) registered to vote in the 2025 national and local elections (NLE), according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said 68,448 PDLs will cast their ballots for next year’s elections. Of these, 993 will be escorted outside to vote in their respective precincts. 

“Mas marami yung PDLs na doon mismo sa kanilang facility boboto kesa sa escorted voters,” said Ferolino during the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Comelec, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Thursday.

(More PDLs will vote right in their facility than those who will be escorted to vote.)

“Mas okay din na mas mababa ang escorted voters dahil yung logistics ng pag transport ng ating mga PDLs ay medyo mahirap,” Ferolino said. 

(It's also better to have fewer escorted voters because the logistics involved in transporting our PDLs can be quite challenging.)

For his part, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia cited the Supreme Court and said PDLs are allowed to vote as long as their crimes have no final judgement of conviction. 

“Regardless ng  nature of crime, kahit light offense, medium o tinatawag na crimes punishable by life imprisonment, kahit pa heinous ang classification, ay entitled makaboto hanggang walang final judgement of conviction,” said Garcia. 

(Regardless of the nature of the crime, whether it's a minor offense, a medium offense, or crimes punishable by life imprisonment, even if classified as heinous, individuals are entitled to vote until there is a final judgment of conviction.) — BM, GMA Integrated News