CABANATUAN CITY – A ranking police officer have expressed apprehension over the plan to allow inmates to vote and allow candidates to campaign inside jails.
Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez noted the presence of some high profile inmates and members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in some jails which would pose security problems.
Marquez said some inmates would even “be able to hold hostage some civilians if they (inmates) are allowed to vote inside the jail facilities.”
It can be recalled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have expressed plans to allow inmates to cast their votes during elections.
BJMP Director Rosendo Dial earlier said that they are now waiting for the En Banc Resolution of the Comelec which will provide guidelines and procedures on how the inmates can register and vote in the 2010 polls.
He said a technical working group is now collaborating with the Commission on Human Rights and the BJMP on the plan.
Presently, there are around 59,000 BJMP inmates throughout the country of whom 42,000 can possibly register and vote. Registration and casting of votes will be done inside jail facilities. Dial said jail guards will be deputized by the Comelec.
He also said makeshift polling precincts may be set up inside the warden’s office, administrative office or in the front gate. He added that if possible, all makeshift polling precincts be set up right inside the jail facilities.
“If they receive complaints from the candidates against any of their wardens, the wardens would be replaced.”
Marquez said he prefers that inmates who have not been convicted by final judgment be the ones authorized to register and vote.
Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez noted the presence of some high profile inmates and members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in some jails which would pose security problems.
Marquez said some inmates would even “be able to hold hostage some civilians if they (inmates) are allowed to vote inside the jail facilities.”
It can be recalled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have expressed plans to allow inmates to cast their votes during elections.
BJMP Director Rosendo Dial earlier said that they are now waiting for the En Banc Resolution of the Comelec which will provide guidelines and procedures on how the inmates can register and vote in the 2010 polls.
He said a technical working group is now collaborating with the Commission on Human Rights and the BJMP on the plan.
Presently, there are around 59,000 BJMP inmates throughout the country of whom 42,000 can possibly register and vote. Registration and casting of votes will be done inside jail facilities. Dial said jail guards will be deputized by the Comelec.
He also said makeshift polling precincts may be set up inside the warden’s office, administrative office or in the front gate. He added that if possible, all makeshift polling precincts be set up right inside the jail facilities.
“If they receive complaints from the candidates against any of their wardens, the wardens would be replaced.”
Marquez said he prefers that inmates who have not been convicted by final judgment be the ones authorized to register and vote.
