PNP, BJMP to help oversee detainee voting
Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento ordered the police and jail personnel to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the voting procedures for detainees for today’s elections.
Sarmiento took note of the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order last month preventing Comelec from implementing a resolution that regulates detainee voting.
On April 19, the SC issued a TRO on Comelec Resolution 9371, taking into consideration the residency issues of detainees at the time of voting.
In the TRO, the SC said a detainee voter, if he or she so chooses, would vote only for national candidates.
Through its committee on detainee voting, Comelec will put together Special Boards of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) to remind the detainees and the voting public of the TRO, and to take charge of the ballot appreciation and feeding into the vote counting machines in the different precincts.
“Our jail staff will be on their guard, and they will be in sync with the activities of the SBEIs during detainee voting – overseeing a peaceful, orderly electoral process,” Sarmiento said.
Sarm ien to pledged full support of the local government units, provincial jails and sub-provincial jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine National Police in contributing to the efficiency of the voting process in the precincts.
“For all of our constituents who have a stake in the leadership of our country, including our brothers and sisters serving time, we will fervently protect this year’s voting exercise,” he said.
Records from the Comelec showed there will be detainee special polling places in 247 detention facilities/ jails nationwide, while escorted voting will be provided to 2,295 detainee registered voters who belong to 137 detention centers or jails with less than 50 detainee registered voters.
“We are one with Comelec in promulgating the law of the Supreme Court, and in this regard, we will help them fulfill their sacred duty to safeguard the vote,” Sarmiento said.