BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Baguio will establish a special polling place for the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Baguio City Jail.
 
COMELEC-Baguio Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin said they already submitted to their central office the list of more than 200 PDLs in the city jail facility who are eligible to vote on October 30 for the 2023 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

"Addan to special electoral board members tayo nga agpabotos ditoy uneg ti jail facility tayo on October 30 (There will be special electoral board members who will administer the voting inside our jail facility on October 30)," Martin bared during the City Joint Security Coordinating Center meeting on Wednesday, August 9.
 
However, Martin clarified that the special polling place is only for the PDLs who are eligible voters of Barangay AZCKO (Abanao Zandueta-Chugum-Kayang and Otek) here.
 
PDLs who are registered voters outside Barangay AZCKO are allowed to go out for escorted voting provided that they are granted court clearance, Martin added.
 

"Halimbawa, registered voter ng Irisan si PDL, ilalabas si PDL, punta siya dun sa voting center dun sa Irisan, nasa express lane naman siya so mauuna siya agad, bubuto siya mismo doon tapos ibabalik diyan (sa facility)," Martin elaborated.
 
Voting PDLs outside Barangay AZCKO must individually request court clearance from the court concerned. Due to limited number of ballots, the COMELEC cannot include in the special polling area PDLs who are not voters in the aforementioned barangay.
 
Martin said that escorted voting is a challenge with the limited manpower of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology who will accompany the voting PDL.

He said that the BJMP must advise the PDLs who wish to vote come October to submit their petition earlier for the security and mobility plan to be in place  before the election day.

The COMELEC-Baguio will also coordinate with the courts to furnish them with a copy of court clearance they issued to ensure the smooth conduct of escorted voting for PDLs. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)