Inmates register for 2016 polls: “Around 300 detainees of Lapu-Lapu City Jail in Sitio Soong, Barangay Mactan get chance to vote”

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Jail detainees have been granted privilege to register for the national elections in 2016 by the Commission on Elections.

The detainees of the jail in Sitio Soong, Barangay Mactan were momentarily released from their cells so they could submit themselves for registration.

They were required to file their registration, and their biometrics and thumb marks were also taken.

It was the Comelec that barged into the jail house and granted the request of jail warden Renante Rubio.

"Ako gyud kining gipangusgan aron dili maabtan sa pagka-busy sa Comelec (I persisted on this move even before the Comelec gets busy)," said Rubio in an interview yesterday.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-run facility has estimated that around 250 to 300 detainees were registered as of yesterday. Male detainees made their run first while the female detainees then followed.

The Comelec, said Rubio, will resume registration at the jail next week Thursday.

Currently, the facility houses a total population of 1,100 inmates but Rubio also said inmates who were not able to reach six months of residency are not allowed to register.

"Bisan napriso sila, naa sila'y katungod nga mo-vote and mo-choose kung kinsa ilahang ganahan nga mayor or president (Though prisoners, they still have the right to vote and choose who they want to be the mayor or the president)," Rubio said.

Rubio was thankful to the Comelec for its effort in reaching out to the prisoners to help them exercise their right of suffrage.

According to Rubio, the registration process for jail inmates before was a bit of a hassle since the jail needed to make a request that would allow the inmates to register.

He added that transportation was also a burden for they were required to provide security assistance for the prisoners.

Rubio said they will lobby for the holding of another election registration next year although the schedule has yet to be settled. (FREEMAN)