A total of 2,102 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) nationwide had voted in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) held on Monday, Oct. 30, according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

In a press release posted on its official Facebook page, BuCor said that 817 of the 2,102 exercised their right to suffrage at the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) Inmate Visitation Services Unit, Maximum Security Compound.

Other PDLs voted in the following penal farms:

• 527 PDLs - Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF)

• 277 PDLs - Correctional Institution for Women (CIW)

• 266 PDLs - Leyte Regional Prison (LRP)

• 157 PDLs - San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF)

• 58 PDLs - Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF)

In a chance interview with the media at the NBP, Commission on Election (Comelec) chairman George Garcia mentioned that PDLs voting in the BSKE demonstrated “the human side of the election.”

“Nakita natin yung human side of the election na hindi lamang natin sinasabi na ang halalan ay para siguraduhin makakaboto ang vulnerable sectors natin,” he said.

Unang beses na pagboto ng mga PDL o person deprived of liberty para sa Barangay at SK Elections, personal na binisita ng COMELEC | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/pucEIrz0Rb

— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 30, 2023

Garcia said inmates are considered part of the vulnerable sector which is composed of senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.

“Therefore, ating makikita na dapat nakakaboto ang lahat. We should never disenfranchise anybody. Disenfranchisement is never the business of the republic. We should always allow everyone to vote,” he furthered.

‘WE SHOULD ALWAYS ALLOW EVERYONE TO VOTE’

WATCH: COMELEC @ChairGEGarcia sa unang beses na pagboto sa Barangay at SK ng higit 2,000 PDL sa bansa sa ilalim ng Bucor na wala pang hatol | @dzrhnews https://t.co/LDjwyH5xkZ pic.twitter.com/Vy3w9mN9up

— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 30, 2023