A special voter registration was held by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Manila City Jail (MCJ), in connection with the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said a total of 137 women and 186 male PDLs are expected to form the first batch of registrants.
Garcia personally inspected the satellite voter registration site placed at the MCJ.
He said that the PDLs concerned must be residents in the area where they will cast their votes in order to avail of the PDL voting. They may however, transfer registration to where they will vote later on and what counts is that they get to be registered first so they can vote.
The Comelec chair explained that the PDLs may vote while there is no final judgment or conviction on the cases they are facing.
Comelec data during the May 12 polls show that the voter turnout at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reached 88 percent, showing high interest among Filipinos to vote even if they are incarcerated.
“Ibig sabihin, ganun kataas ang interest ng mga kababayan natin bagamat sila ay di malaya. Ibig sabihin, nagnanais sila na pag lumaya na sila, o kahit di pa nakakalaya, magandang buhay at lipunan para sa kanilang minamahal sa buhay,” said Garcia.
On August 1, the Comelec began its 10-day voter registration for the 2025 BSKE. It will last up to August 10, 2025.
The Comelec also held a voter registration in the Special Registration Anywhere Program (SRAP) sites, some malls, hospitals and ports in Metro Manila where the registration will be up to August 7 only.
