|
Saturday, January 14, 2006
'Prison without walls' mulled for North Cotabato
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE North Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has endorsed the "prison without walls" program of Governor Emmanuel Piñol as a solution to the congestion problem plaguing the provincial jail.
Piñol formally presented the program at the PPOC's initial meeting for 2006 held Wednesday at the provincial capitol rooftop after initially discussing it with the Provincial Board in a meeting last week.
"The idea is to provide cottages in an area within the provincial capitol compound where low-risk inmates can stay and do productive work while awaiting the resolution of their cases," Piñol said.
"They can work at the provincial rubber seedling nursery that we will set up within the capitol compound, or in the pomelo and mango orchards that the provincial government is maintaining in the area, and get paid whatever is due them under the law," he added.
Piñol thought of putting up the "prison without walls" after the International Committee of the Red Cross raised concerns on the overpopulation of inmates at the provincial jail.
More than 750 prisoners currently occupy the provincial jail, which is built to accommodate only 300 inmates.
Under the program, low-risk prisoners will be housed in a minimally guarded compound with separate cottages for adult male and female inmates as well as minor offenders.
In addition to livelihood opportunities, special classes and non-formal education courses would be provided for women and youth offenders.
A special committee composed of representatives from the Provincial Government, courts, provincial prosecution office, the Philippine National Police, and the Public Attorney's Office will be set up to review the cases of the inmates who might qualify for the program.
"We envision this 'prison without walls' to be a community of hope, a correctional facility to help and process the inmates in their re-integration to mainstream society," Piñol said. (BOT/With press release)
(January 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
