MANILA, Philippines - The suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City can register as voters in Taguig for the 2013 elections, according to a resolution issued by the Comission on Elections (Comelec).
Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said in her July 23 order that in accordance with the Comelec’s Resolution 9371, “should accused-detainees file an application for registration inside the Quezon City Jail Annex (in Camp Bagong Diwa), they would have, if their application is approved, to be registered as voters of Bicutan, Taguig.”
The Comelec’s order stemmed from a request of several of the suspects, including members of the Ampatuan family, for the poll body to set up a satellite registration office in jail so they can register as voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.