Uphold Prison Voting Rights, CBCP Exec Told Incoming Govt

MANILA, May 29, 2010- A CBCP official has called on the incoming administration and the next Congress to guarantee the voting rights of prisoners.

"We call on the next administration and the next congress to review the laws governing our election and ensure that the prisoner voting right is upheld," said Rodolfo Diamante, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Diamante praised the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for the formation of the voting system that permitted prisoners to exercise their right to suffrage.

"We laud the COMELEC, CHR and BJMP for the establishment of a mechanism which allows the detention prisoners, to exercise their constitutional right and duty to votes" he said.

The prison commission believed the right to suffrage of the detainees and prisoners must be respected and this must not be taken from them.

Diamante also applauded the "concerned government agencies" for acting fast in processing the voting system of the prisoners which made them actively participate in the recent national and local elections.

ECPPC has been in the forefront in supporting the promotion and enhancement of the dignity and human rights of persons deprived of their liberties. (CBCPNews)