BJMP: 3 PDLS won council seats in BSKE

Three of the eight persons deprived of liberty (PDLS), who ran for village councilor bets in the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), "are poised to be declared as winners", Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Director Ruel S. Rivera said.

In a statement, Rivera noted that two of the said PDLS were currently detained at the Tanay and Dasmariñas City Jails, while the third inmate was from Cagayan de Oro City.

"Tatlong PDLS ang nanalo pero ito ay partial at unofficial status sapagkat ang Comelec [Commission on Elections] po ang mag-a-announce noon (Three PDLS won but this is only partial and unofficial status since the Comelec will be the one to announce this)," Rivera said.

Rivera stated that 26,268, or around 90 percent, of the 29,288 PDL voters cast their votes during the recent polls, adding that no untoward incident occurred during the election process.

For his part, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. pointed out that the victory of the three PDLS was a sign of an active and working Philippine democracy.

"PDLS winning in the 2023 BSKE shows na ang demokrasya ay talagang nirerespeto natin and the Filipinos’ right to vote (we really respect democracy and the Filipino’s right to vote)," Abalos asserted.

Abalos oversaw the historic casting of votes of 303 PDLS at the Manila City Jail last Monday, Oct. 30, as it was the first time for detainees to participate in the nationwide BSKE.

However Abalos clarified that the winners’ ability to serve would also depend on the outcome of their cases.

"Kung acquitted siya, makakapagsilbi siya, makakalabas eh. Pero kapag guilty ay malamang ay disqualified (If he is acquitted, he can serve, he will be set free. But if he is guilty, probably he will be disqualified)," Abalos explained.