A total of 3,550 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) exercised their right to vote in the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE), exemplifying the democratic principle that suffrage is a right afforded even to those behind bars, under specific legal provisions.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in close coordination with the BuCor, successfully facilitated the special voting process across various prison facilities nationwide. Of the total number of PDL voters, the highest turnout was recorded at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) with 1,373 voters, followed by Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) with 1,065, Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) with 425, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) with 293, Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) with 270, and the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) with 124 voters.
COMELEC Chairman ATTY. GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA personally oversaw the conduct of the special PDL voting in Muntinlupa, accompanied by key officials, including COMELEC Muntinlupa Election Officer ATTY. KIMBERLY JOY T. ALZATE-CU. Also present were BuCor key officials: Deputy Director General for Administration ASEC AL I PERRERAS, Deputy Director General for Security and Operations ASEC GIL T TORRALBA, OIC-Deputy Director General for Reformation CT/CSUPT MA CECILIA V VILLANUEVA, NBP Acting Superintendent C/SUPT ROGER R BONCALES, and Camp Commander CCINSP HENRY A AVILA. The event was also observed by members of the international community, who were present as part of the election monitoring efforts.
Under COMELEC Resolution No. 9371, certain categories of PDLs are allowed to register and vote. These include individuals who are currently detained and awaiting or undergoing trial, those serving prison terms of less than one year, and those convicted of crimes such as rebellion or violations of national security laws whose cases are still under appeal.
On the other hand, the law disqualifies individuals who have been sentenced with finality to imprisonment of one year or more, or those finally convicted by a competent court of crimes involving disloyalty to the government, including insurrection, rebellion, or firearms violations. These conditions are outlined under Republic Act No. 8189, also known as the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996.
The successful turnout of this year’s PDL voting reflects the government’s continuing commitment to inclusive and participatory governance, even for those on the margins of society.
