Comelec on PDLs: They have right of suffrage

The Commission on Elections said on Monday that persons deprived of liberty, or PDLs, have the right to vote as they are still citizens of the country.

Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia stressed that PDLs, who participated in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, have yet to receive a final judgment or conviction from the court.

"They are Filipinos; they have the right to the so-called right of suffrage. Take note that those who we let participate in the BSKE election do not have a final judgment or conviction, which means their cases are on appeal or are currently being processed by the courts," Garcia said during an ambush interview in New Bilibid Prison.

Garcia added that the international sectors laud the Comelec as the country gives chances to the PDLs to practice their right of suffrage.

"PDLs are part of the vulnerable sector. The international observers were here earlier, and they were very happy because, in their countries, prisoners cannot vote. We show the human side of the election by showing that our vulnerable sectors can vote. Our PDLs are part of the vulnerable sector," Garcia said.

The chairman stressed that nobody should be disfranchised from voting.

"Everyone should be able to vote. We should never disfranchise anybody. Disfranchisement is never the business of the republic. We should always allow everyone to vote on election day," he said.