AROUND 150 inmates of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail can now have the opportunity to participate in national and local polls as they were officially registered as voters by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, August 20.
The local poll body held the satellite registration for male and female detainees or persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the male dormitory of the detention facility.
A total of 44 female and 106 male inmates were registered during the activity.
"This number adds up to the voters already registered the past elections in the special jail precinct," the city jail said in a statement.
City Comelec officer Ramil Acol said the holding of the satellite registration aims to bring closer the services of Comelec to the public and provide the opportunity to qualified individuals to participate in the country's electoral process, including the detainees who are not yet convicted.
City Jail Warden Superintendent Erwin Kenny Ronquillo lauded the Comelec for giving the PDLs opportunity to register "so that, although they are detained, they can still exercise their right to vote especially in the fast approaching May 13, 2019 national and local elections."