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Persons deprived of liberty casting votes at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on May 12, 2025.
Comelec via BWorldOnline
MANILA, Philippines — More than 4,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) participated in the 2025 midterm elections at penal facilities nationwide on Monday, May 12.
The Bureau of Corrections data indicate 4,125 registered PDL voters across the country.
At New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, 2,135 PDLs were allowed to vote, including about 902 in the maximum security compound, according to Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia.
BuCor data shows 473 inactive voters at Bilibid.
Other facilities also reported significant participation:
- Davao Prison and Penal Farm had 924 registered PDL voters
- Leyte Regional Prison, 421
- San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga del Sur, 290
- Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, 140
- Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, 123
- CIW-Mindanao, 92.
Garcia said PDLs remain eligible to vote as long as they are awaiting trial or their cases are under appeal.
“Hanggat hindi pinal ang kanilang kaso, hanggat naka apela ang kanilang kaso, kasalukuyang dinidinig silang lahat ay makakaboto,” Garcia said.
(As long as their case is not yet final, as long as their case is under appeal, while they are currently being heard, all of them will be able to vote.)
The ballots of PDLs are transferred to the precincts where they are registered voters.
Under Philippine law, only individuals with convictions that have attained finality are barred from voting, unless their cases are under appeal.
Voting remains open until 7 p.m.
