Baguio inmates cast votes in Monday's polls

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY -- A total of 56 inmates from the two district jail facilities in this city were escorted to 17 polling centers so they could exercise their Constitutional right to vote in Monday’s mid-term elections.

              "Our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) still have their right to vote despite their situation," Baguio City jail warden, Chief Insp. Crispin Dornagon, said.

The 56 PDLs -- 52 from the city male dorm and four from the female dorm – were in their orange uniform when they went to the voting centers, accompanied by personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Dornagon said they had earlier requested the Commission on Elections to set up a polling station inside the jail, but this was not granted.

He said the court order allowing the PDLs to vote was issued by Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed last May 10.

"Our PDLs would not be allowed to vote if there is no existing court order," Dornagon said, noting that the BJMP strictly implemented their standard operating procedures in carrying out the order.

                Meanwhile, Jail Senior Insp. April Rose Ayangwa said 10 PDLs from the BCFD were supposed to vote, but only four actually did.

Ayangwa said the six others opted not to vote due to the requirement that they have to be in their inmate uniform, for security reasons, aside from having jail guards escorting them.

"Some of our PDLs were embarrassed to cast their votes since we are strictly implementing our SOP. They need to wear their uniforms and their escorts were really in full uniform," she said. -- PNA