Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Inmates cheered, given money while voting By Rene H. Martel Sun.Star Staff Reporter
WITH the warm reception they got, one would think Marivic Himulatan and Leonora Libongcogon were candidates striding into Zapatera Elementary School to cast their votes.
Minus the armed escorts, orange shirts and the pair of handcuffs around their wrists, they would have made quite a pair of budding politicians.
They waved their hands, smiled and shook hands with men and women, both young and old.
Familiar figures
They were familiar figures in the community. One person even commented that Himulatan seemed to have gained weight.
Still others handed peso bills in plain view.
The cash was not payment for their votes, as the donors were not gunning for barangay office. Neither was the money for campaign contributions.
The cash was for their daily expenses at the Cebu City Jail, where they are detained for allegedly violating Sections 11 and 12 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
They were jailed for alleged possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia.
With the court’s approval, they were allowed to vote in yesterday’s synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“Nalipay ko kay gitagaa’g higayon nga makabotar, kay nakahima-mat pud namo among pamilya (I am happy I was allowed to vote, because it also gave me the chance to see my family),” said Libongcogon, 55.
She was among the 138 inmates who were given the chance to vote because their cases are still pending in court.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) originally asked for the courts to have 200 inmates vote yesterday.
Directive
Himulatan declined to be interviewed, but friends were obviously ecstatic upon seeing her outside her polling precinct.
Nemeño said they took pains in having the detainees register and vote because of a Department of Interior and Local Government directive addressed to the BJMP.
“They were so happy, not just because they got to vote, but because they saw their families and neighbors,” he said.
“So many others also wanted to vote, saying they were registered. But I told them there was no court order to allow them outside,” the warden added.
While waiting for their ride back behind bars, Himulatan and Libongcogon savored the few moments they had by exchanging pleasantries with neighbors, friends and their families.
