As the nation prepares for the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is intensifying its efforts to ensure that all eligible citizens are informed and empowered to vote. Today, the Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO) of COMELEC led an Info-Campaign Caravan for Voter Education at the Maximum Security Camp of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, reaching over 300 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
The initiative is a significant step towards inclusive electoral participation providing critical voter education to individuals often marginalized in the voting process. Under Comelec Resolution No. 9731, those who are allowed to vote are PDLs who are confined in jail or those formally charged with any crime/s and awaiting/undergoing trial; those serving a sentence of imprisonment for less than one year; those whose conviction of a crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms laws or any crime against national security or for any other crime is on appeal.
Leading the caravan were COMELEC officials, including Chairman Hon. George Erwin M. Garcia, Atty. Monalisa C. Mamukid, Director IV and Head of the VSO, Dir. Jubil S. Surmieda, Regional Election Director for NCR, and Atty. Kimberly Alzate-Co, Election Officer of Muntinlupa City. Key BuCor officials present included CT/CSUPT MARIA FE R MARQUEZ, MNSA, Head Executive Assistant, C/CINSP ROGER O BONCALES, Acting Superintendent of NBP, C/SINSP ALBERTO D ANDRADA, Acting Chief, NBP Escort Group, C/SINSP HENRY A AVILA, Camp Commander, MaxSeCamp, and C/INSP EVANGELINE A RABARA, Chief of the Inmate Visitation Services Unit (IVSU).
The Info-Campaign Caravan featured a series of discussions for PDLs to understand their rights and responsibilities. The VSO’s voter education campaign is one of many efforts planned nationwide as COMELEC gears up for the 2025 elections.
