MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a resolution that will allow inmates to earn good conduct time allowance (GCTA) and time allowance for study, teaching or mentoring (TASTM) credits when participating in elections.
In a memorandum on Thursday, the Comelec said it adopted the recommendation of its chair, George Erwin Garcia, to recognize the active electoral participation of inmates as activities meriting credits for GCTA and TASTM.
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Valid activities
To formally integrate electoral participation into the GCTA framework, the poll body said it has authorized the “negotiation and eventual execution” of a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Corrections and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Among the activities counted as electoral participation include voter registration, actual voting and voter education.
Based on the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10592, a GCTA is a privilege granted to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), as the government now refers to inmates. It entitles them to a reduction in their jail or prison term as a reward for good conduct and exemplary behavior.
The TASTM, on the other hand, is a privilege granted to inmates as a reward for completing their studies, or by serving as a teacher or mentor to a fellow detainee. They may be granted a deduction of up to 15 days for every month of study or mentoring services.
In his recommendation, Garcia said including electoral participation as a basis for earning GCTA and TASTM credits “directly aligns the constitutional right of suffrage with the state’s rehabilitative goals.”
He also explained that “because prison authorities hold the discretionary power to recognize new categories of exemplary deeds,” the poll body should be able to “legally collaborate with jail bureaus” to implement the new policy “without requiring legislative amendments.”
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