Comelec holds off-site registration for inmates

Allan Banin can gain exerciser his right to vote after 15 years. This was made possible through the Comelec’s off-site registration for inmates at the Cebu Provincial Rehabilitation Office yesterday.

The last time 45-year-old inmate Allan Biñan registered for the national elections and voted was in 2000.

After 15 years, he can again exercise his right to suffrage as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted a satellite registration at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. yesterday.

Biñan filled up his registration form and had his biometrics data captured in less than 20 minutes.

“Maayo ning makabotar ta kay ato man ning katungod (It’s good that we can vote because this is our right),” he told Cebu Daily News.

At least 500 inmates were accommodated during yesterday’s off-site registration.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec Cebu provincial election supervisor, said that satellite registration for detainees is done every election period.

Castillano said inmates who have not been convicted can still vote or may run for office.

“In order for them to vote, they need to be registered,” he told reporters.

Castillano said off-site registration for detainees has always been the advocacy of Comelec.

“Those who are in the vulnerable sector, including persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and detainees, should be given equal importance as well,” he said.

Comelec Commissioner Louie Tito Guia and other top-ranking officials oversaw the registration process yesterday morning.

The election officials were in Cebu and among other places, to promote  the importance of extending the right to vote to the vulnerable sectors.

Castillano said that yesterday was the first time in this election period that a satellite registration was held at the CPDRC.

Only two Voter Registration Machines (VRM), used to capture biometrics, were operating yesterday.

Castillano said each unit can accommodate around 250 inmates for the whole day.

At present, there are 2,429 inmates inside the facility.

“Maybe the jail warden will ask us to come again, considering that there are more than 2,000 inmates here,” said Castillano.

He said the Comelec already conducted a satellite registration at the Cebu City jail recently.

Local Comelec officials and Cebu City government’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) are also considering to hold an off-site registration for PWDs soon.

After registration, Biñan looked at his acknowledgement slip and held it to his chest.

“Don’t lose that,” a fellow inmate told him.

Biñan landed in jail four years ago after he was accused of involvement in illegal drug activities.

The inmate said he hopes things will get better for him and for the nation as well.

“That’s why I will vote. This country needs to elect good and competent leaders in order for it to improve,” he told CDN in Cebuano.

Comelec has set October 31, 2015 as the deadline for voters’ registration.