To their dismay, it was neither Guardo nor his throng of supporters.
The 20 men, all wearing bright orange shirts, turned out to be inmates from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) who were allowed to vote.
The inmates’ trip to their respective precincts, however, turned out to be more than just an opportunity to take part in yesterday’s elections.
It became an instant reunion for the inmates’ family and friends, some of whom had to be called from their houses.
A young girl quickly cuddled up to Mario (real name withheld upon request), who was waiting for a jail guard to locate his precinct. An elderly woman then approached Mario and whispered to him, apparently telling the inmate whom to vote for.
“Na-a na sa akong lista (It’s already on my list),” Mario said while collecting sample ballots handed to him by friends.
Chanting
While waiting for his turn to vote, Mario kept himself busy chatting with friends and family.
He told Sun.Star Cebu he decided to take the opportunity to vote so his bet would win. He said that while they were still inside the BBRC, they were asked whether they wanted to take part in yesterday’s elections.
“May na lang pud makatabang ko sa komunidad (At least I can be of help to the community),” said Mario, who has been in jail for the past two years for drug and robbery charges.
He refused to say whom he was voting for.
“Akong pili-on ang kandidato depende sa iyang pagkatawo (I will vote for the candidate with the best character),” he said.
JO1 Vincent Albacite told Sun.Star Cebu that a court order was issued so all inmates whose cases are still pending for resolution can be escorted to their respective precincts and vote.
Albacite said they had to implement a shifting schedule in escorting the inmates. After one batch finished voting, they sent them back to the BBRC to fetch another group.
For the batch that went to Barangay Pasil, each inmate had one accompanying jail guard.
The inmates spent at least 30 minutes in the school before they were ushered back to the vehicle, this time with their index fingers already stained and their hands clutching the goodies their relatives gave them.
