Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Sunday revealed that he has ordered the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to ensure orderly and peaceful voting of the 31,125 persons deprived of liberty who will cast their votes in the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections today.

Based on Commission on Elections rules, inmates who are formally charged and awaiting trial and those serving prison sentences of less than a year are qualified to vote in the local polls.

Abalos directed BJMP director Ruel Rivera to also ensure the safety of the PDLs while they cast their votes in their respective designated precincts during election day.

He disclosed that at least 29,133 PDLs will vote inside the special polling precincts within BJMP jails, while 1,992 will be escorted by jail officers in their respective registered precincts in barangays.

"The turnout of more registered PDL voters for the BSKE is in itself historic.  This underscores the commitment of the DILG and the BJMP to uphold democracy and inclusivity in the electoral process," Abalos said.

He added that the PDLs' right to vote and choose their political leaders is a testament to the democratic liberty of a nation as prescribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Rights and the 1987 Constitution.

"The right to vote is everyone's inherent right under the Constitution. As the DILG actively assists the Comelec in ensuring peace and order during the 2023 BSKE, we are elated to confirm that more than 31,000 PDLs will be able to exercise their rights to vote on BSKE 2023," Abalos said.