Sunday, May 11, 2008
Dances, sales help make inmates save millions
INMATES of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) have P2.8 million in the bank.
They even have their own passbook.
Capitol consultant on security Byron Garcia said in a recent forum that the money came from donations and sales of various souvenir items at the provincial jail.
Souvenirs include bags, purses and house items that the inmates made, or shirts, mugs, pins and others featuring the “dancing inmates.”
CPDRC prisoners became popular worldwide after their dances were uploaded to the video-sharing website YouTube.
Garcia also said that two visitors recently gave each inmate P100. The amount will also be deposited in the inmates’ account.
The CPDRC currently has 1,600 inmates.
Garcia has used the dance as part of the inmates’ rehabilitation process.
Capitol also initiated the program to make sure that inmates who have served their terms will be treated like normal people when they return to society.
After serving a sentence, an inmate is personally escorted by Garcia to his barangay where a welcome program is prepared.
This is so the inmate will feel “welcomed” by his neighbors rather than feel like he is still being feared, Garcia said. (JGA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 11, 2008 issue)
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