A total of 730 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) successfully cast their votes in the 2025 National and Local Elections, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to inclusive and participatory democracy.
Of this number, 528 PDL voted on-site through special polling places (SPP) established inside various jail facilities across the region. Meanwhile, 202 PDL were escorted to regular polling precincts outside of the jail facilities. This was done under strict coordination and security measures to ensure both the safety of the individuals involved and the integrity of the electoral process.
The successful implementation of both PDL-SPP and escorted voting was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Regional Office VIII, with the leadership of JSSUPT MANUEL O CHAN JR, Officer-in-Charge.
This initiative underscores the importance of safeguarding the voting rights of every qualified Filipino citizen, regardless of their current circumstances, and highlights the growing efforts to make the country’s electoral processes more accessible and inclusive.